MORE strike action has been called in the healthcare industry, with a two-day walkout set to hit Warrington Hospital this week.

According to UNISON, some health workers in Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust are owed thousands of pounds due to underpayment over recent years.

As such, the union has called a 49-hour period of industrial action, beginning this week.

Warrington Guardian: A number of strikes have taken place at Warrington Hospital in recent monthsA number of strikes have taken place at Warrington Hospital in recent months (Image: Newsquest)

A statement was released by the trade union, in which it was claimed that 'healthcare assistants (HCAs), theatre support workers (TSWs) and maternity support workers (MSWs) at the trust should be paid up to £2,000 more each year because they perform duties and tasks well above their pay band.'

The new strikes will take place from 7am on Thursday, September 28, until 8am on Saturday, September 30.

According to UNISON, the employees in question assist nursing staff in delivering care on the wards and in clinics across the trust’s sites at Warrington and Halton hospitals.

The statement from UNISON includes: "Already seven health trusts across the north west have moved many low-paid HCAs to the higher rate and given back pay to April 2018.

"This has been in response to campaigns by UNISON.

"The trust in Warrington has begun to implement the re-banding but has so far refused to follow other trusts in agreeing back pay, despite months of pressure from UNISON and a collective grievance from more than 300 employees. 

"That means support staff in Warrington are being denied thousands of pounds for work they’ve done."

UNISON north west regional organiser Angela Blundell said: “Taking strike action is no easy decision. Healthcare assistants are dedicated to providing outstanding care to people across Warrington and Halton.

“But the trust has refused to give these workers what they’re owed and seems to think care should be given on the cheap. 

“Staff have done all they can to resolve the issue in a reasonable way. They’d much rather the trust made an offer in line with solutions reached at hospitals elsewhere in the north west. 

“Most of these employees have worked well above their pay band for many years. It’s time the trust did the right thing.

"Paying them fairly would avoid any strike action and prevent disillusioned staff leaving the NHS for better-paid jobs elsewhere.”