Striking health visitors employed by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB) have received significant support in their campaign for fair pay from fellow unions and other health boards.

The workers have been on continuous strike since February over a pay and grading dispute. The workers are being underpaid by up to £9,000 a year. This follows a decision to match health visitors as requiring a masters qualification, which is a band seven role. The workers are only paid at band six.

False claims

CTMUHB has repeatedly claimed that they cannot individually agree a band seven job description as this would impact on other health boards. But this has been proved to be false as other health boards in Wales including Hywel Dda, Powys and Aneurin Bevan, have agreed to review the health visitor job description, using the correct education level, and honour the matching outcome. A measure that CTMUHB has refused to do.

In an important act of solidarity, Welsh health unions have refused to engage in a national piece of work commissioned by the chief nursing officer which would create a band six health visitor job description. The unions have confirmed they cannot agree any job descriptions as they have been undertaken “outside normal social partnership structures”. This decision means that the attempt to undermine Unite’s dispute in this manner cannot proceed, as all parties need to agree a job description.

Totally unacceptable 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Cwm Taf is becoming increasingly isolated as all sides can see that its action in denying highly skilled and dedicated health visitors fair pay, is totally unacceptable.

“Unite’s health visitors know that the union has their backs all the way in their battle for the pay they deserve.”

There is also growing anger over the inaction from the Plaid Cymru government. In opposition Plaid made it clear that it supported the health visitors campaign and would take action if it became the government. Having won the election, Plaid has been missing in action in resolving this dispute.

In addition there is an increasing belief among the 100 plus strikers that they are being treated adversely as they are an all-female, community-based workforce. If it was a male dominated role or based in a hospital, then action on pay would have been taken sooner.

Trust acting disgracefully 

Unite regional officer Paul Seppman said: “Cwm Taf Morgannwg has acted disgracefully throughout this dispute, and they are rightly being treated as a pariah by other health boards and unions alike.

“If the health board wants to rebuild its credibility, then it needs to return to negotiations and agree a fair pay level for health visitors.”

Earlier this month Unite revealed that the strike action is having a huge impact in vital child appointments in South Wales.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For media enquiries ONLY please contact Unite senior communications advisor Barckley Sumner on 07802 329235.

Email: barckley.sumner@unitetheunion.org

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Instagram: unitetheunion Web: unitetheunion.org

Unite is the UK and Ireland’s leading union fighting to protect and advance jobs, pay and conditions for members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham