HUNDREDS of healthcare support workers at hospitals in Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot are to strike for two days over pay, said UNISON yesterday (Monday).
Staff at eight hospitals in the area, including Neath Port Talbot, Morriston and Singleton will walk out on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 December.
The action follows a ballot that saw 99% of workers who took part voting in favour of a strike.
According to NHS guidance, healthcare support workers on salary band 2 should only be providing personal care such as bathing and feeding patients.
However, healthcare assistants employed by the Swansea Bay University Health Board are routinely undertaking clinical tasks such as monitoring blood, performing electrocardiogram tests and inserting cannulas, says UNISON.
UNISON Cymru regional organiser Lianne Owen said: “Strike action is always a last resort, but board managers must come back with an offer that compensates staff fairly for all the time they’ve been paid incorrectly.
“Healthcare support workers are some of the lowest paid staff in the NHS. Yet they are routinely expected to carry out complex duties for which they’re not being paid.”
Neath Port Talbot Hospital healthcare support worker Hollie Arnold said: “The strikes will show that healthcare support workers are serious about getting fair pay for the work they do. We love our jobs, but we want to be paid properly.”
Swansea Bay branch secretary Andrew O’Leary said: “No one wants to be on strike. These undervalued staff would much rather be at work caring for patients, but the health board has given them little other option.”
