Strike ballot looms over nurse rota changes

NURSES in North Wales could be balloted on strike action amid growing anger over controversial changes to their rotas.

It comes as a union boss has warned the move to make staff take an extra half-hour break per shift without pay could push them into financial hardship.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) announced it would move ahead with the plans last week, which it claimed would standardise rotas and protect the health and safety of its workforce.

However, it was met with an outcry from nurses and health care supporter workers, who could be forced to take on additional shifts to meet their contracted hours from January.

Tony Brady, Unite the Union’s regional co-ordinating officer, said some staff were left in tears amid worries it will impact their work-life balance and childcare arrangements.

He said the union was prepared to ballot members on strike action unless senior figures reconsider their decision.

He said: “Staff are angry and are willing to take industrial action and I’ve never heard nurses say that before. It’s the extra journeys into work, it’s the childcare costs, it’s even down to laundry.”

“We don’t believe the consultation has been meaningful and we want to sit round the table again for them to talk to us and listen to our concerns.”

The union is planning to hold a protest outside a meeting of board members in Colwyn Bay this week.

A senior health board figure said it had a duty to ensure staff rotas are consistent and meet national terms and conditions. Sue Green, executive director of workforce and organisational development, added 53 separate meetings had been held with workers and trade unions during consultation on the plans. She said: “We have been through, in detail, the feedback received, and have carefully considered it. As a result, we have made a number of changes to our plans to reflect the different needs of our services and of staff, including extending the period for working their contracted hours and making sure that people who need to can work flexibly.”