Strike action at hospital is suspended for more talks

STRIKE action scheduled for today by hospital staff working in the sterilisation and disinfection units has been suspended.

Unison said the action was halted to allow for further discussion of the ABMU health board’s latest offer.

Staff at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Morriston in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot have been in dispute over pay, claiming staff doing the same jobs in other health boards are paid more.

Unison regional organiser Mark Turner said: “It is clear that the marvellous display of solidarity from our members last Wednesday has convinced the employer of the need to more seriously engage with us and has resulted in offer that can form the basis of further talks.

“However there are some aspects of the proposals which are unacceptable to our members. It is to their credit that they have agreed to suspend the strike to allow further talks to continue.

“But they have also told us that a clear message to the employer must be sent, that if there is no satisfactory outcome to those talks, they are ready to resume and escalate the strikes on February 22 and 23.”

A 24-hour walkout last week of band two assistant technical officers in sterilisation and disinfection units led to a number of nonemergency operations being cancelled on Wednesday.

But outpatient clinics, emergency services and urgent surgery went ahead as normal.