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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Glasgow nurses could launch crippling strike action over pay dispute
EXCLUSIVE: Trade unions representing district nurses are poised to ballot their members. Scots nurses could go on strike over a pay dispute with the country's largest health board. Trade unions are gearing up to ballot their 'demoralised' members over a row with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Barbara Sweeney of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, said: 'We are considering all the options available including the possibility of asking our members if they would be willing to take industrial action.' An industry source said they ease pressure on hospitals by ensuring patients live independently at home. District nurses are currently on Band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scale, but they believe this does not match their skill, expertise and workload. Staff in the RCN, UNISON and GMB trade unions are now ready to move to a vote on industrial action over a standoff with the board. A walk out could pile pressure on services for vulnerable older people. Sweeney said: ' NHSGGC and the six health and social care partnerships have let down their district nursing teams, and in doing so are letting down patients. 'They have failed to follow nationally agreed job evaluation processes and have left this vital group of staff feeling ignored, undervalued and demoralised. 'They have put significant obstacles in the way and left us no option but to escalate. The RCN and other trade unions are now formally in dispute with the health board. 'Our members working in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 's district nursing teams are committed to their patients and colleagues. For them, industrial action would absolutely be a last resort. We are hoping the health board will see sense and remove the blockages to job evaluation for this essential group of staff.' Matt McLaughlin, head of health at UNISON, said: "UNISON's District Nurse members have had enough of NHS Glasgow's refusal to evaluate their jobs fairly and within the rules of the accredited job evaluation scheme for this job which was initially accepted as having changed in 2022. 'Despite numerous attempts to reach a fair outcome the health board continues to behave in an unacceptable manner - refusing to evaluate their jobs. 'UNISON is now conducting a consultative ballot for industrial action. NHS Glasgow and Clyde should be clear - our next step is a formal strike ballot." He also called on SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray to intervene: "The Cabinet Secretary needs to speak up on this issue and get his managers told to apply the job evaluation scheme or the following industrial action will be on his shoulders!" Karen Leonard, GMB organiser, said: 'Our members fully engaged with the process of job evaluation in good faith but that faith has not been justified. 'Their skills, qualifications and responsibilities have increased over the last decade to meet the complex needs of patients now living in our communities and only want their changing role to be properly recognised and fairly rewarded. 'This process has dragged on for year after year when consensus on the way forward has been reached on a number of occasions only for the goalposts to be moved. After so many false starts and needless delays, the nurses' patience has been stretched to breaking point. 'They only want to nurse but are being driven towards industrial action by a needlessly protracted process that has left them demoralised but determined to resolve this issue.' A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: 'We acknowledge the exceptional care that our district nursing teams provide every day. They are a vital part of our health service and play a crucial role in supporting patient care and flow throughout the healthcare system in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We deeply value their dedication and the difference they make in our communities. 'We also appreciate and understand the frustration that has arisen from the length of time it has taken to progress the job evaluation process. This has been a complex matter, and we recognise the impact that the process to date has had on staff morale. 'To help bring this to a conclusion as quickly and effectively as possible, we recently undertook a rapid review of the process to date and sought expert advice to ensure we are taking the right steps forward. We are committed to working closely with our staff-side colleagues to move this forward and to keep our nursing teams informed throughout. 'We thank our district nurses for their continued professionalism and patience. We remain focused on reaching a conclusion without further delay.'
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust to axe 30 cleaner jobs
A hospital is planning to make cleaners redundant as part of a cost saving BBC has learned that cleaning staff at the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW) have been told 30 jobs are to go across the trusts two sites at Pembury and cuts are part of wider cost improvement programme at the trust to save more than £70m in 2025/26. A spokesperson for MTW said that no final decisions had been made and that the trust was "committed to engaging with affected staff and unions throughout the process". The redundancy plans have worried families who lost loved ones at the hospital 20 years ago. At least 90 patients died at Maidstone Hospital between 2004 and 2006 in a outbreak. Clostridium difficile (C. diff) is a type of bacteria that can cause diarrhoea and can spread quickly in hospitals. A report into the deaths cited a lack of cleanliness as a contributing factor to the family member who's mother-in-law died during the outbreak, told the BBC that cleaners were "vital" to maintain safety standards and to make them redundant was "scandalous". UNISON regional manager Ryan Slaughter said: "Hospitals need more staff, not fewer workers, if delays and waits are to end."Cutting jobs and services will mean patients will have to wait longer to be seen and make staffing levels less added that ministers needed to deal with the "recruitment and retention crisis in the health service". A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: "We are currently reviewing services across the Trust in line with a national focus on treating more patients, improving efficiencies and ensuring long-term sustainability. During this period, our priority remains the delivery of high quality care to the communities we serve and supporting our staff." Hundreds of NHS workers across the south east are facing uncertainty over their jobs because of a planned government announced in March it wanted integrated care boards (ICBs) to halve their running costs. ICB's are NHS organisations responsible for planning health services for their local Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has said the changes were part of a transformation plan to "tackle inefficiencies and drive up productivity in the NHS".
Glasgow Times
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Thousands celebrate Paisley's annual Sma Shot Day event
The event, organised by Renfrewshire Council, took place on Saturday, July 5. One of the world's oldest workers' festivals, the event commemorates the Paisley weavers' victory in a 19th-century industrial dispute. Supported by UNISON Renfrewshire branch, the festivities kicked off with the much-loved Sma' Shot parade, organised by Bridgeman Arts alongside local community groups, performers, and musicians. This year's parade also featured two brand-new giant puppets, inspired by traditional poets and musicians, and showcased vibrant costumes and performers. Read more: Urgent warning ahead of TRNSMT 2025 in Glasgow (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) After 33 years of carrying the Charleston Drum in the Sma' Shot Day parade, Tony Lawler passed the drumsticks to Tommy McGrory of Paisley music school Loud 'n' Proud. The handover was marked by a brief ceremony at Brodie Park before the parade proceeded to the town centre. Once at the main event site at Abbey Close and Bridge Street, attendees enjoyed the traditional Burning of the Cork, a Sma' Shot Day highlight, introduced by spoken word artist and Tannahill Makar Shaun Moore. Abbey Close became a hub of entertainment for the afternoon, with performances on the live stage from PACE Youth Theatre, who re-enacted the weavers' struggle for Sma' Shot payment, Evelyn Laurie and Neil Thomson, Howlin' Radio, and the Byres Road Big Band. The afternoon also included pop-up performances outside Paisley Abbey and at Restoration and Creation, a local upcycling business. Read more: 'Kickstarting the summer': Free giant ball pit returns to Braehead shopping centre (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) (Image: Renfrewshire Council) The business also hosted an artisan makers market and a selection of children's workshops. A range of free family activities was available, including face painting, inflatables, arts and crafts, and a funfair. The historic Sma' Shot Cottages also opened their doors to offer visitors a glimpse into Paisley's rich weaving history. Sma' Shot Day is a key part of Renfrewshire's major events programme. More information about upcoming events in Paisley and Renfrewshire can be found on the website.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Strike among NHS hospital staff reaches 100th day
A strike among specialist health workers is becoming one of the longest in NHS history as workers reach their 100th day of industrial action. Gloucestershire phlebotomists, who take and handle patient blood samples, are classed as Band 2 on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale but UNISON, their trade union, claims that is not enough for the responsibilities of their role. Kevin McNamara, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals, said he was "keen to stick within the national framework" so there is "fairness and consistency across the whole of the NHS". But Caroline Hayhurst, one of the 37 striking phlebotomists, said: "Just because other trusts do something, doesn't make it right." More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Mr McNamara said the national campaign move healthcare support workers from Band 2 to Band 3 did not include phlebotomists. "I think it starts to undermine a pay terms and conditions framework if we start to take local decisions," he said. Mr McNamara said he first asked union colleagues to share an updated job description for evaluation last autumn, but claimed he only received it last week. "It is something we're committed to resolving but we have to do it in a proper process." UNISON said phlebotomists have been "wrongly placed on the lowest pay scale in the NHS", and perform "more complex tasks, usually associated with the higher NHS Band 3". Ms Hayhurst said she and her colleagues "love" their jobs, but "it has to be at a proper rate of pay". "Throughout this process, one of our chief exec's stances has been, 'The rest of the country are paying Band 2 to their phlebotomists' and he's absolutely right, there are many trusts who are still paying Band 2," she said. "There are others that have addressed the issue about the banding of their phlebotomists since we came out on strike and they have already changed it without their phlebotomists having to unionise," Ms Hayhurst added. "In order to bring about change, sometimes you have to challenge, and that's what we're doing." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. 'Blood test delays' as workers continue pay protest Striking staff extend action further into June NHS phlebotomists six weeks into strikes over pay Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust UNISON
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire phlebotomists reach 100th day of strike
A strike among specialist health workers is becoming one of the longest in NHS history as workers reach their 100th day of industrial phlebotomists, who take and handle patient blood samples, are classed as Band 2 on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale but UNISON, their trade union, claims that is not enough for the responsibilities of their McNamara, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals, said he was "keen to stick within the national framework" so there is "fairness and consistency across the whole of the NHS".But Caroline Hayhurst, one of the 37 striking phlebotomists, said: "Just because other trusts do something, doesn't make it right." Mr McNamara said the national campaign move healthcare support workers from Band 2 to Band 3 did not include phlebotomists."I think it starts to undermine a pay terms and conditions framework if we start to take local decisions," he McNamara said he first asked union colleagues to share an updated job description for evaluation last autumn, but claimed he only received it last week."It is something we're committed to resolving but we have to do it in a proper process." UNISON said phlebotomists have been "wrongly placed on the lowest pay scale in the NHS", and perform "more complex tasks, usually associated with the higher NHS Band 3".Ms Hayhurst said she and her colleagues "love" their jobs, but "it has to be at a proper rate of pay"."Throughout this process, one of our chief exec's stances has been, 'The rest of the country are paying Band 2 to their phlebotomists' and he's absolutely right, there are many trusts who are still paying Band 2," she said. "There are others that have addressed the issue about the banding of their phlebotomists since we came out on strike and they have already changed it without their phlebotomists having to unionise," Ms Hayhurst added."In order to bring about change, sometimes you have to challenge, and that's what we're doing."
