More than 1,000 healthcare support workers at Swansea Bay University Health Board will finally receive years of compensation they’re owed after their employer agreed to honour a deal to settle a long-running dispute, says UNISON Cymru today (Friday).
The board has now confirmed it will implement an earlier pledge to provide back pay to staff who had been paid at the wrong grade for their increasingly complex roles, the union says.
Employees had been alarmed that a promise to pay staff what they are owed before Christmas had been put on hold, UNISON says.
But just two days after a 2,000-signature petition was handed over by the workers and UNISON criticising the backtrack, the board has announced the payments will go ahead.
This is long-overdue recognition for the predominantly female, low-paid workforce who have been at the bottom of the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale, says the union.
They had been carrying out clinical duties for many years, which would normally be associated with a higher grade, including patient observations, blood monitoring and electrocardiogram (ECG) tests.
UNISON says the announcement is a major victory for healthcare support workers and a direct result of their determined campaign.
Neath Port Talbot Hospital healthcare support worker Hollie Arnold said: “This is an absolute win for the hard-working healthcare support workers who have for too long gone above and beyond delivering high class care and being underpaid for it. This finally means we can get recognised for our hard work and dedication.”
UNISON Cymru head of health Tanya Bull said: “Healthcare support workers represented by UNISON in Swansea Bay have fought hard to be recognised and rewarded properly. They should be proud of this win and of forcing their employer to change course.
“This outcome was only possible thanks to significant intervention from the Welsh government, without which it’s unclear whether Swansea Bay would have done the right thing by these staff.”
UNISON Cymru regional organiser Lianne Owen said: “I am very pleased that Swansea Bay health board has finally honoured its commitment to recognise and compensate these healthcare support workers. This means so much to them in many different ways. These staff can now continue providing excellent service to patients with confidence, knowing they are being properly valued and paid for the tireless work they do every day.”
Notes for editors:
– Over 1,000 Band 2 healthcare support workers at Swansea Bay University Health Board will now move to Band 3 and receive a historic recognition payment for years of underpayment.
– In December 2024, UNISON members paused planned strike action after the health board agreed to re-band workers and pay compensation. The deal was “paused” without warning on 30 September 2025.
– On 21 October 2025, more than 30 staff marched on the board’s headquarters to hand in a petition signed by over 2,000 people calling for the deal to be honoured.
– Further comments from staff:
Cefn Coed Hospital healthcare support worker Tony Roberts said: “This is a victory for the low-paid workers of the NHS. It’s not just about money; it’s about being recognised for the invaluable work we do.”
Morriston Hospital healthcare support worker Melissa Lewis said: “This money means a lot as we have worked for years to be recognised, and all our hard work has paid off. We love our jobs and glad we didn’t have to take drastic action.”
Morriston Hospital healthcare support worker Spencer Gibbs said: “All healthcare workers work hard and deserve this payment for all the hard work they have done and continue to do so, we are pleased this as all come to an end and can now look forward to a very happy Christmas.”
– UNISON represents more than 1.3 million members providing public services in health, local government, education, police and utilities.
Media contact:
Jim Poulter M: 07904 342511 E: j.poulter@unison.co.uk
