Underpaid worker hits out as health board delays back pay

A HEALTHCARE support worker has criticised a health board for pulling a deal to correct years of underpayment at the last minute.

- LUCY JOHN

The worker called Swansea Bay University Health Board’s decision to postpone back payments worth up to thousands of pounds until next summer “a devastating blow”.

The worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “To [go] back on that promise, it sends out a damaging message that because we do not hold degrees, we are somehow less worthy.

“That our hard work, our compassion, and our dedication does not matter. It feels like a ‘just make them wait’ attitude towards staff who already give everything to their patients and their jobs. The commitment and essential role we play in patient care is not valued.”

Members of the health board’s predominantly female low-paid workforce were due to receive compensation in their pay packets in November to end a previous dispute.

It followed years of staff having to carry out work that fell outside of their NHS band two pay grade. The compensation could have been as high as £7,000 for some workers before tax and National Insurance depending on their circumstances and length of service.

Support workers previously voted to strike over the issue following a two-year campaign for improved wages.

That led to Swansea Bay UHB executives pledging to move staff onto a higher pay band and provide recognition payments and back pay by December 31 this year.