Operating theatre staff at Luton and Dunstable Hospital have secured a new deal over overtime pay following a dispute which led to a total 14 days of strike action.
The agreement means staff will not lose out financially when taking on additional shifts, according to UNISON, which said the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had scrapped plans to replace overtime payments with work paid at standard rates through its internal staff bank.
The trust announced in February that extra shifts would no longer be treated as overtime, which had been paid at time and a half. Instead, staff would have been expected to take on additional hours through the trust’s internal employment agency for their normal rate of pay.
Nurses, theatre assistants and operating department practitioners took 14 days of industrial action in a series of protests at the changes.
Staff had warned that removing the overtime premium would discourage colleagues from taking on extra shifts and could undermine efforts to reduce hospital waiting lists.
UNISON said the strikes led to trust bosses returning to negotiations, resulting in a new agreement which ensures staff do not lose out when working additional hours.
Cathrine Ward, UNISON Eastern regional organiser, said: “Hardworking and loyal staff were forced to take strike action to ensure they’re paid fairly for their work. It’s outrageous hospital bosses thought they could slash overtime rates like this. This victory is good news for health workers and for patients.”
Mark Williams, a senior operating department practitioner at Luton and Dunstable Hospital, said: “This is a fantastic result for staff. Everyone supported each other and showed what can happen when we all stick together. Staff achieved everything we set out for and more.”
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