The following letter was sent to Tina Ricketts, executive director of workforce and OD, and copied to the chief executive and chair of Swansea Bay board, today (Tuesday 1 October), in response to her email to staff yesterday.
Dear Tina
All Staff Message Band 2&3
I write in response to your all staff message 30 September 2025 regarding Band 2&3 Health Care Support Workers.
In reneging on your agreement without proper consultation with UNISON, your message to Band 2 staff acknowledges that ‘some colleagues will be very disappointed’ they are not receiving their back pay when promised. Following a meeting of UNISON members last night (Tuesday 30 September) the Board need to be aware that feelings run much deeper than ‘disappointment’. Anger, upset, mistrust and a lack of faith in the health board were the sentiments expressed.
Only in August, you advised all affected staff that you remained committed to making the payments before the end of the year, as promised.
This decision, and the way in which it has been communicated, has re-enforced in HCSW’s minds the disregard for the work they undertake for the Health Board.
Furthermore, your communication totally misrepresents the context in which the Health Board agreed to re-band UNISON members and make payments to recognise the years of exploitation they experienced. The banding issue was not first raised in May 2024 – it had been raised for several years, including in an exchange of correspondence with the then Chief Executive Mark Hackett in 2022.
The Health Board only agreed to address the blatant banding issues because UNISON HCSWs came together in their hundreds and threatened to strike. In the face of UNISON industrial action the Health Board presented a deal the night before strike action was due to start. It was this offer, that promised to implement re-banding and compensate for the years working additional duties, that UNISON members accepted, on the basis it would be concluded and monies paid by the end of 2025.
UNISON representatives have negotiated and engaged with you in good faith since that agreement was reached. The fact you could make a decision that has such significant consequences for the staff involved without our input is astonishing. You have undermined the principles of partnership working which the Board states that it supports, and again, devalued the HSCWs who put their faith in you to deliver.
Your rationale for delaying the payments to UNISON members is not factual. You state the All Wales agreement is likely to see the arrears of pay (backdated to January 2025) being pensionable. You go on to state the agreement reached between the Health and UNISON in Swansea Bay does not see that extra pension payment being made. This is incorrect. The Swansea Bay agreement allows for re-banding and backpay to 1st January 2025. Backpay is subject to all usual deductions including pensions.
Yesterday we lodged a dispute with SBUHB. UNISON members have now requested an Industrial Action ballot such is their level of anger.
On behalf of UNISON HSCW members I strongly urge you to retract the statement, apologise for the distress caused and reinstate the deal immediately.
Simon Dunn
Head of Bargaining
UNISON Cymru