Healthcare assistants employed by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have accepted an offer regarding their pay grading and back pay.
The workers, who are members of union Unison, are based at University Hospital of North Tees, University Hospital of Hartlepool, James Cook University Hospital, Friarage Hospital, Redcar Primary Care Hospital, East Cleveland Primary Care Hospital and Friary Community Hospital.
They have accepted an offer to move them from band two to band three of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, which will result in a wage rise that will be backdated to 1 July 2019 as compensation for the years they were paid at the lower grade.
The workers have campaigned to be paid a wage that they feel reflects the work they have been undertaking. They were due to strike for the fifth time earlier this month, but this was suspended while negotiations took place. The resulting improved offer was overwhelmingly accepted by the employees.
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A spokesperson for both North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The groups’ previous position for backdated pay was from July 2021. Following extensive discussion, an offer has been made. There will be ‘no detriment’ and ‘no claw back’ position. This offer has now been balloted with Unison members and accepted. Our trusts remain dedicated to patient care as a priority.”
Clare Williams, northern regional secretary for Unison, added: “It’s great to see staff fairly compensated after a hard-fought campaign. These healthcare assistants have been working above their pay band for many years. It should never have come to strike action but it’s good the trusts returned to negotiations and agreed the back pay staff deserved. The union will now work with the trusts to get health workers their money as soon as possible.”