Hundreds of healthcare assistants in Northumbria have won their pay campaign after receiving an improved pay offer as a result of strike action, UNISON says today (Monday).
Staff working for Northumbria NHS Foundation Trust walked out for 48 hours in July in a dispute over fair wages.
The Northumbria health workers had also campaigned for several months to secure fair back pay for the work they had already undertaken.
Healthcare assistants had been paid at band 2 of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, despite increasingly carrying out clinical tasks that should be paid at the higher band 3 rate.
In 2024 the trust re-banded the workers who have been performing duties above their pay level.
But UNISON says the employees deserved more than the two years back pay they were given if they were to be adequately rewarded for the extra work they have done.
After the strike, the trust agreed to negotiate further. This has resulted in an improved offer which has now been accepted overwhelmingly by staff.
Healthcare assistants employed by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust have had similar wins with substantial pay rises.
UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “It’s great to see these low-paid health workers win their hard-fought campaign for fair wages and proper recognition of the years they’ve dedicated to these roles.
“It should never have come to strike action, but it’s good the trust returned to negotiations and agreed to the back pay staff deserve.
“The union will now work to get health workers the money they’re owed.”
