Staff at Salford Royal Hospital have gone on strike in a dispute over overtime pay, claiming their employer, Northern Care Alliance Trust (NCA), has failed to pay the rates agreed under NHS terms and conditions. The strike began on July 3 and is expected to last until July 4.
Details of the dispute
According to Unison, the trust had agreed that overtime pay would be 1.5 times the regular rate for weekdays and double time on bank holidays. However, the union says NCA has circumvented this by placing extra shifts on its in-house system, NHS Professionals (NHSP), which allows the trust to pay staff at a lower rate.
Unison claims that overtime booked through NHSP is classed as 'NHSP shifts' and does not require the trust to pay the agreed rate. Staff say they are losing an estimated £100 per shift as a result.
Union response
Kevin Dole, North West regional organiser for Unison, said: "These workers are all working in theatres, doing the job they do every day. If they had the right amount of staff there'd be no need for overtime in that area. But because they haven't got the right amount of staff, they're forced onto these shifts."
He added: "These workers feel it's their responsibility to make sure all the patients are kept safe. They're under increased pressure. It's escalated into this volcano that's about to erupt, people have had enough."
Support from politicians and unions
Staff on the picket line were joined by Salford MP Rebecca Long Bailey, Unison general secretary Andrea Egan, UNISON North West Regional secretary Peter Middleman, Trades Union Congress general secretary Paul Nowak, and TUC North West regional secretary Jay McKenna.
Trust statement
Gertie Nic Philib, chief people and strategy officer at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Industrial action involving our theatre colleagues is currently taking place and is due to conclude at 8am on Saturday 4 July. While both parties are disappointed that we have reached this position, we fully respect our colleagues' right to take lawful industrial action and will continue to engage constructively with union representatives in upcoming negotiations to seek a positive way forward."
She added: "The safety of our patients and the delivery of high-quality care remain our top priorities and we are working hard to minimise any disruption to patients and those who use our services."
