Maternity support workers in Grimsby strike over pay

Staff at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust commenced the strike this morning, after talks between their union Unison and hospital managers failed.

“It’s not a pay rise we’re asking for, this is money that we are owed”

Claire Coley

It comes as part a national campaign by Unison to make sure healthcare support workers are being paid fairly for the work that they do. The Pay Fair for Patient Care campaign has so far seen more than 35,000 healthcare support staff up-banded.

Maternity support workers on band 2 at the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby had been carrying out clinical responsibilities that should have been paid at band 3, argued the union.

While the trust agreed to move the support workers onto band 3 from October 2023, a dispute over back pay is ongoing.

The 22 maternity support workers in the dispute are asking for back pay of up to five years, to compensate them for the additional responsibilities they have undertaken previously.

Claire Coley, who has worked as a maternity support worker in Grimsby for more than 20 years, told Nursing Times that the cohort felt “undervalued” by the trust.

“A lot of us are long serving, and we do love the job,” she explained.

“However, we still do deserve the level of pay for what we actually do.

“It’s not a pay rise we’re asking for, this is money that we are owed.”

Ms Coley noted that maternity support workers at the trust had become responsible for maternal observations, helping mothers to feed and were also supporting midwives and doctors with deliveries.

In addition, they were being asked to remove cannulas and catheters –responsibilities which Unison has repeatedly argued should be reserved for band 3s.

“I think it’s got to the stage where we now need to show that we do matter,” said Ms Coley.

“We do play a really big part. We are proud of what we do and we deserve the pay that we should have been paid.”

Unison’s ballot of relevant maternity support workers at the trust had a 100% turnout with all voting in favour of strike action and action short of strike.

“Our maternity support workers are highly valued members of staff”

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson

Trust managers met with Unison last week to try and come to an agreement, but the talks failed and therefore strike action pressed ahead.

The two-day walkout began at 6.30am-9.30am this morning and will resume at 6.30pm-8pm tonight. It will also take place at the same times tomorrow.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser, Ashley Harper, said: “Unison entered these talks feeling optimistic that there would be a breakthrough that would allow the strike to be called off.

“But trust managers failed to bring an acceptable offer to the table, so staff have been left with no other option than to walk out.”

A Northern Lincolnshire and Goole spokesperson said: “Our maternity support workers are highly valued members of staff.

“Our priority continues to be the safety of the expectant parents and babies in our care and we have robust plans in place to maintain a safe service.”