Pay rise ends hospital dispute

HOSPITAL staff have ended a pay dispute with their health board after an agreement on a salary increase was reached.

Healthcare workers in the sterilisation and disinfection units at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University (ABMU) Health Board hospitals have accepted proposals to boost pay rates by up to £1,900.

It brings to a close a two-month industrial dispute which led to dozens of staff staging a 24-hour walkout on January 25.

A number of operations were result.

Unison had argued that staff at the Morriston, Singleton and Princess of Wales Hospitals were unfairly treated when compared with to people doing non-emergency cancelled as a exactly the same job at neighbouring health boards.

The union claimed ABMU staff were worse off by between £466 and £1,879 depending on their length of service in the post.

Mark Turner, Unison organiser for ABMU, said: “The health board’s proposals mean a significant increase in pay for the overwhelming majority of employees in the sterilisation and disinfection units.

“It will boost their pay packets by hundreds of pounds and in some cases, nearly £2,000.

“These healthcare workers just wanted to be paid what they deserve. We were able to show that they were paid far less than peers doing exactly the same job with the same responsibilities elsewhere in Wales.”

The pay row involved 54 band two assistant technical officers (ATO) in sterilisation and disinfection units at ABMU who are members of Unison.

Fiona Isaac, Unison representative at Morriston hospital said: “I want to say a big thank you and congratulate everyone in the sterilisation and disinfection units at the Morriston, Singleton and Princess of Wales.

“We have demonstrated that you don’t have to accept something when an employer is in the wrong. You can challenge it and by standing together, win.”

Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has been approached for comment.