Protesting NHS workers outside Warrington Hospital call for ‘fair pay’

Those driving along Lovely Lane will be able to see the group, with signs and banners calling for ‘fair pay’.

This is part of days of industrial action this week, beginning at 7am yesterday, Thursday, and ending at 8am tomorrow, Saturday.

The action is being coordinated by Unison, with the union claiming that many healthcare assistants are performing tasks that they are not being paid for – and are therefore owed backpay of thousands of pounds.

More than 200 healthcare assistants at East Cheshire NHS Trust are due to receive a substantial wage rise and in excess of five years’ worth of back pay after a Unison campaign, the union confirmed today.

Unison members in the same role at Warrington’s NHS trust are currently taking strike action over the same issue and the refusal to provide the back pay UNISON is seeking.

Protesting NHS workers outside Warrington Hospital call for 'fair pay'. Pictures: Vicci Davenport

David McKnight, north west regional organiser at Unison, said: “It is great that an agreement-in-principle has been reached with East Cheshire NHS Trust, subject to a vote from UNISON members.

“These healthcare assistants have been working above their pay band for far too long.

“Warrington and Halton trust should now follow East Cheshire’s lead and compensate its staff fairly too.

“These trusts have been going against NHS policy for years. It is a scandal that they have been saving money off the backs of their lowest paid staff for so long. It is time they did the right thing.”

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust released a statement regarding the strike action earlier this week.

Protesting NHS workers outside Warrington Hospital call for 'fair pay'. Pictures: Vicci Davenport

A spokesman said: “The trust is committed to making sure that healthcare support workers are paid the right banding for the work they do.

“From October 1, around 80 per cent of healthcare support workers at Warrington and Halton teaching hospitals will have their pay uplifted from a band two to a band three.

“This reflects the different roles required across different parts of the organisation and the individual preferences of our healthcare support workers.

“The trust has also set up a working group to explore the issue of retrospective pay banding in the detail it deserves.

“The group includes healthcare support workers and local trade union representatives and is aiming to establish a fair way to resolve this complex issue as quickly as possible.

Protesting NHS workers outside Warrington Hospital call for 'fair pay'. Pictures: Vicci Davenport

“Unfortunately, despite this commitment to work in partnership with trade unions, regional Unison colleagues have decided to pursue strike action.

“While this is regrettable, we will continue to work to find a resolution for our healthcare support workers.”

The statement continues: “We will be taking all appropriate actions to minimise any potential impact on our patients during this period of industrial action.

“Patients are asked to attend their hospital appointments unless they are directly contacted by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.

“Members of our communities can help by keeping the emergency department at Warrington Hospital free for emergencies and using alternative services including GPs, pharmacies and NHS 111 online for non-emergency health advice.”