Manchester mental health staff strike over ‘unsafe’ staffing

Around 35 early-intervention workers, employed by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, began a 24-hour walk out at 7am this morning.

“The trust must protect the wellbeing of both its staff and the vulnerable individuals they support”

Paddy Cleary

The strike will be followed by a period of ‘work to rule’, a type of industrial action whereby staff work strictly to their contract and refuse to give anything extra.

Their unions, Unison and Unite, said the trust had failed to improve staffing levels despite previously committing to seek new funding to do so and that the situation was now unsafe.

Unison North West regional organiser Paddy Cleary said: “These early intervention mental health workers take their duties seriously, but heavy workloads, insufficient funding and unsafe staffing levels have left them with no choice but to strike.

“The trust must protect the wellbeing of both its staff and the vulnerable individuals they support.

“Securing adequate mental health funding and maintaining safe staffing levels are essential for keeping communities safe.”

Among the strikers are nurses, social workers, recovery workers and psychologists, among others.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the workers were striking to “protect service levels and patient safety”.

“Greater Manchester mental health trust need to listen to the anger of their workforce and take immediate action to remedy this situation,” she warned.

Carol Harris, chief operating officer for Greater Manchester Mental Health, said the trust was taking part in negotiations to try and resolve the dispute.

“Actions have been taken to prioritise the care and safety of our service users and their carers,” she said.

“Negotiations are underway to understand the actions needed to address the staff members’ concerns.

“We hope to agree a resolution very soon.”