Greater Manchester hospital staff to strike over overtime pay

More than 350 operating-theatre staff, including nurses, clinical support workers, and housekeepers, are scheduled to strike at four Greater Manchester hospitals next week. The industrial action will take place on Monday, August 24; Wednesday, August 26; and Friday, August 28.

The strikes will affect Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and Fairfield Hospital in Bury. The dispute centers on overtime pay managed through NHS Professionals. The union UNISON alleges that while staff are entitled to time-and-a-half pay when covering shortages, some have received less than their normal shift value, with some losses exceeding £80 per shift.

UNISON claims that an offer from the Northern Care Alliance (NCA) to resolve the dispute was withdrawn before staff could discuss it, accusing the trust of a lack of leadership. In response, NCA’s chief people and strategy officer, Gertie Nic Philib, stated that the trust respects the right to lawful industrial action and is working to minimize disruption to ensure patients requiring urgent and time-critical care continue to receive treatment.