More than 300 healthcare support staff at Ipswich and Colchester hospitals have voted to strike in a pay dispute claiming they are being "exploited" by NHS bosses. The strike vote was held in a dispute over pay following a review of job roles and salaries within the NHS. A nationwide NHS review in July 2021, determined that workers on Band 2 salaries should focus on personal care responsibilities while those carrying out clinical duties should be paid Band 3 salaries.
However, until March this year clinical workers at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), which runs Ipswich and Colchester hospitals, were being paid Band 2 salaries while doing Band 3 work. UNISON said that members were paid less for their work at the hospitals. (Image: Newsquest) After pressure from the union , the trust upgraded the band of the workers but has not compensated them.
As a result, 96% of clinical support staff backed strike action in a formal ballot because, UNISON says, they have not been paid the full rate for the duties they have been carrying out. The strike vote is the latest blow to the trust which is facing similar action by thousands of cleaners, porters and caterers over plans to privatise their jobs. Nick Hulme, chief executive of ESNEFT, said the trust had been working closely with UNISON to reach an agreement with health support staff in a bid to avoid industrial action.
ESNEFT CEO Nick Hulme said he hopes to reach an agreement with UNISON soon. (Image: Sarah Lu.