The head of Britain’s biggest union joined striking operating theatre staff outside Luton and Dunstable University Hospital yesterday as a long-running dispute over overtime pay continues.
UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan visited the hospital’s picket line after theatre staff began their longest period of industrial action so far in protest at changes to their pay.
Nurses, theatre assistants and operating department practitioners walked out on Monday in a strike that is due to continue until the early hours of Sunday (August 9) unless Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reverses its decision.
The latest action follows eight previous strike days in the dispute, which centres on changes to overtime payments introduced by the trust in February.
UNISON says theatre staff were previously paid time and a half for overtime in line with nationally negotiated NHS agreements. However, the trust changed the arrangements so staff taking on additional hours must work shifts through its internal staff bank at a flat rate.
The union argues the changes leave some workers taking home less money than they would receive during their normal contracted hours.
Despite the strike, UNISON said theatre staff are continuing to provide emergency cover to ensure patients requiring urgent surgery can still be treated.
Ms Egan said: “These workers are absolutely committed to going into their operating theatres and saving lives. But their employer wants them to do their jobs for less pay.
“Ministers are talking constantly about bringing down waiting lists. They won’t do it by stretching staff’s goodwill beyond breaking point.
“The trust has had every opportunity to solve this dispute, but it’s sticking to its bird-brained scheme to cut staff pay.
“Workers aren’t asking for much, all they want is the same overtime pay they were on before.”
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has warned that the industrial action is likely to affect services at Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, although emergency, trauma and urgent maternity theatres will continue to operate as normal.
In a statement on their website, the trust said: “We want to be open that this action will impact our services, and we are currently working hard to finalise plans to maintain safe care.
“While we will do our best to ensure planned appointments and procedures continue, we know there will be disruption, and some delays are likely. Emergency, trauma and urgent maternity theatres will continue to run as usual.
“We will do our best to avoid widespread cancellations. Appointments or procedures that have needed to change, we have contacted those patients directly.
“Our priority is maintaining safe, high-quality care for patients. We value the vital contribution of our theatre teams and remain committed to constructive discussions with UNISON and our staff.”
Patients due to attend Luton and Dunstable University Hospital during the strike period are being advised to attend appointments as normal unless they have been contacted directly by the hospital. Emergency services continue to operate as usual.
Be the first to comment