Hospital laboratory workers strike again over pay

Strikes by hospital laboratory workers over pay and workloads are set to continue, the Unite union has said.

Microbiology staff at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in Steeton, West Yorkshire, took strike action before Christmas and are on strike again this week from 9 until 11 February.

The union said the staff, who work for Integrated Pathology Solutions LLP (IPS) - a joint venture between hospital trusts - were on a lower pay band than they should be. The union said staff were now expected to do work for another trust, increasing nights and weekend call-outs.

The hospital, which has been contacted for comment, previously said it had "contingency plans in place".

Unite said a further strike will take place on 18 until 20 February

Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said: "Airedale trust's leadership are treating these staff disgracefully.

"They are already being paid too little, and now the trust is demanding they take on out-of-hours work on top of heavy existing workloads."

The union said strike action has resulted in testing delays for the hospital and local GP services.

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