Ward clerks employed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde begin a two-day strike tomorrow (Wednesday 5 August) in a dispute over pay and grading, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
The walkout will take place despite a year of negotiations and will cause significant disruption in NHS acute sites across the Glasgow and Clyde area.
UNISON says these essential staff – mostly women – are on the lowest NHS pay grade even though they play a vital role in running hospitals.
The union say ward clerk duties have increased substantially and pay should have been upgraded accordingly.
More than 200 staff are expected to picket the health board’s largest sites over the two days, says UNISON.
Ward clerks and their supporters will also hold a rally tomorrow morning outside Board Headquarters (Gartnavel Campus) at 11.30am to highlight their situation.
Their duties include organising appointments, co-ordinating patient transport, and acting as a key point of contact for patients, relatives and staff.
UNISON NHS Glasgow Clyde & CVS Branch branch secretary Frances Carmichael said: “This is the first strike in the NHS in Scotland for more than five years. That shows the strength of feeling.
“These skilled workers are essential to the running of hospitals. Without them, doctors and nurses would be dealing with paperwork rather than focusing on patient care.
“The NHS is already under great strain. The health board must get back around the table to find a solution. No one wants to take strike action, but ward clerks feel they’ve little choice.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON will hold a rally on Wednesday at Board Headquarters JB Russell house, Gartnavel Royal from 11.30am.
-The key issue still in dispute is backpay: Ward Clerks have been doing additional duties for many years, but the board as of Tuesday morning had offered only one year of backpay, far short of resolutions for the District Nurse and Payroll Officers in dispute this year.
– Pickets will take place from 8am to 10am at the following locations:
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (corner of Renfrew Road and Hospital Boulevard entrance)
Glasgow Royal Infirmary (corner of Castle Street and Cathedral Precinct )
Royal Alexandra Hospital (bottom of main car park entrance)
Inverclyde Royal Hospital (corner of Larkfield Road main entrance)
– In a recent UNISON ballot, there was a 98% vote in favour of a walkout. This followed years of delays by the health board in reviewing staff roles.
– UNISON is Scotland’s largest public service union and the largest union within the NHS.