Theatre staff announce fresh strikes at four Greater Manchester hospitals

More than 350 hospital workers have announced further strike action across four Greater Manchester hospitals as a dispute over overtime payments continues.

The action involves nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers working in operating theatres at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield General Hospital in Bury. All four are operated by Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust.

The dispute centres on the trust’s use of NHS Professionals to manage overtime shifts. UNISON says employees covering staff shortages are contractually entitled to time-and-a-half payments but can receive less than their normal hourly rate under the current arrangements, leaving some workers more than £80 worse off for each shift.

Staff previously took industrial action in June and August. According to UNISON, trust managers had made an offer aimed at resolving the dispute but withdrew it before further discussions took place.

UNISON regional organiser Kevin Dolan said staff were seeking the overtime payments set out in their contracts and remained willing to negotiate with the trust.

The involvement of operating theatre staff means the fresh action could affect planned hospital activity, although the extent of any disruption will depend on local contingency arrangements. The dispute remains unresolved, with no agreement yet announced between the union and the Northern Care Alliance.

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