On 17 March this year, a dedicated and specialist team of over 40 caring health workers at Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals began industrial action in their dispute over pay and grading.

Phlebotomists are highly skilled workers trained to take blood from patients when other health practitioners are unable to, or when the patient themselves is unwilling or unable to do so. Some of the phlebotomy team have over 40 years working within the NHS and over ten years in phlebotomy.

Despite this, they are currently paid at NHS Band 2, the lowest in the NHS and just pennies above the national minimum wage. They believe that their skills and training should place them in the higher Band 3 pay band and have asked for a review of their pay and grading to be undertaken.

But senior management within Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust does not agree. They do not appreciate or recognise the work that the team does, and have delayed and resisted at every turn.

With decades of experience, all the phlebotomists want to do is continue what they do best. But given the increasing cost of living, they feel undervalued and can no longer tolerate being overlooked and underpaid.

Starting over eighteen months ago, the team has cooperated fully with the review of the banding. They have acted in good faith, cooperating with every stage of the process on the understanding that their banding would be fairly reviewed. However, this goodwill has not been reciprocated, forcing them to reluctantly take industrial action.

With the ongoing and full support of their union, UNISON, the phlebotomists have now been on strike for over nine weeks, and yet there has been no genuine effort from the Trust to resolve this dispute.

Phlebotomists care deeply for their patients. They believe they should get the care they deserve from specialists who are fully trained and respected for their professionalism. During the dispute, the Trust has wasted public money by forcing nurses (who earn £4.00 an hour more) to do the work of phlebotomists, despite their lack of specialist training.

Cheltenham Constituency Labour Party is proud to fully support local phlebotomists in their fight for fair pay. We encourage concerned members of the public to write to the Chief Executive, Kevin McNamara, at kevin.mcnamara1@nhs.net.

Cheltenham Labour Party is pleased to support them on their picket line outside Cheltenham General Hospital and encourages everyone to contribute to the Phlebotomists’ strike hardship fund.

You can donate by contributing to the strike fund:

Account Name:       UNISON Gloucestershire DHC Branch 21311
Sort code:                 60-83-01
Account number:    20301750
Reference:                strikefund

Simon Smith
Cheltenham CLP Trade Union Liaison Officer and President of the Cheltenham and District Trades Union  Council