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Microbiology workers at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have announced plans to take industrial action later this month, citing concerns about pay and working conditions.
The staff involved carry out diagnostic testing services for Airedale General Hospital and local GP practices. According to the trade union Unite, the workers believe they are placed on a lower NHS pay band than is appropriate for the duties they perform.
Unite has also raised concerns about changes to out-of-hours working arrangements. The union says the trust has agreed to provide additional microbiology services for another NHS trust, which would increase night and weekend call-outs for staff.
Unite states that rota changes were introduced without consultation and without taking existing workloads into account.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“Airedale trust’s leadership are treating these workers appallingly. Not only are they being underpaid but now the trust expects them to take on out of hours work on top of their already considerable workloads. These workers are absolutely right to strike and they have Unite’s complete support.”
Industrial action is scheduled to take place between 18 and 25 December. Unite has said this is likely to result in delays to some microbiology testing services for the hospital and local GP practices during this period.
Unite regional officer Chris Daly said:
“Airedale’s management have caused this dispute with their treatment of these workers and they are the ones who can resolve it. Strikes can still be called off but that will require an offer from the trust that our members can accept.”
Unite has indicated that further industrial action could follow if the dispute is not resolved. Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has not yet commented publicly on the planned strike.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commented on similar strikes from the BMA union, calling junior doctor strikes "unnecessary" and "reckless," urging the BMA to negotiate, stating the government won't be "held to ransom" by pay demands but is open to improving working conditions, contrasting the BMA's demands with a recent "good deal" offer, and condemning the strikes as inflicting "pain and misery" on patients and undermining the NHS.
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