NHS staff to vote on strike action in back pay row

The dispute relates to staff being moved to a higher pay band, a union says

Staff working in hospital operating theatres in Leeds are to be balloted for strike action as part of a dispute over back pay.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is in the process of moving some staff from one pay band to another.

The Unison union said members working in theatres who were being moved to a higher pay band had been offered less backdated pay than other staff who had made similar moves.

A spokesperson for the trust said it was working with colleagues to try to "resolve this dispute as soon as possible".

Unison said the workers had previously been employed on the second band of the NHS "agenda for change" pay scale.

They are in the process of being moved up to the third band to reflect the clinical duties they are often required to carry out, the union said.

Some members of staff have had their pay rise backdated to April 2021, however the union said those working in theatres were only being offered back pay to November 2024.

Gary Cleaver, Unison regional organiser for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "Taking strike action is always a last resort – but the trust is refusing to compensate theatres staff in line with colleagues who've been in the same position.

"They've been working above their pay grade for years and it's only right they're fairly compensated."

'Do the right thing'

Rachel Potter, a Leeds-based perioperative assistant, said: "Theatre staff carry out crucial work supporting patients and clinical colleagues to make sure serious procedures go smoothly.

"It's important that the trust acknowledges the important work we do by moving us up a pay grade, but we also deserve to be fairly compensated for the work we've already done."

Unison said it hoped the trust would "do the right thing" and compensate staff fairly without the need for strike action.

Dr Magnus Harrison, chief medical officer at the trust, said it was important colleagues felt "valued and able to share their concerns".

"We're working together with colleagues in theatres and our staff-side representatives to try and resolve this dispute as soon as possible and ensure minimal disruption to patient care," he added.

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