Many of the healthcare assistants working in A&E at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust have been on band two of the national Agenda for Change pay scale, but have undertaken clinical duties falling under band three for several years.
Thanks to UNISON, the workers have now been re-banded to band three and are set to receive around £3,000 in back pay.
The victory marks the latest success in UNISON’s Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign, which has seen repeated re-banding wins across the country.
Pay Fair For Patient Care calls for all band two staff with increased responsibilities to be paid at the correct rate for the job they are doing and for workers to be compensated for the work they’ve already done at band three level.
The deal reached with the trust means more than 50 A&E staff across Calderdale and Kirklees will be moved to the higher band, as well as receiving back pay.
Kimberley Cundall-Mellor, who is one of the healthcare assistants due to receive this backpay, is thrilled by the union’s success. “We go above and beyond in every shift that we work, and being re-banded means that we’re being recognised and rewarded for the work we undertake for a patient’s care and the patient’s journey,” she said.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “This is fantastic news for workers who go above and beyond to keep the NHS running, but it’s long overdue. Finally, staff will be properly recognised for the work they do, and paid accordingly.
“This is just the first step in Calderdale and Huddersfield. It’s promising the trust has agreed to negotiations for healthcare assistants in other departments.
“UNISON will do everything possible to make sure those workers get the pay and respect they deserve.”
Managers at Calderdale and Huddersfield have agreed to enter negotiations with UNISON aimed at re-banding healthcare assistants in other departments in the new year.
