Staff at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) hospitals working in the sterilisation and disinfection units have welcomed the invitation from local Assembly Member Mike Hedges to meet him this afternoon (Friday) to discuss their pay parity dispute with the health board. Employees were on strike on Wednesday, furious that after two years of discussions the health board continues to ignore their very reasonable claim in the hope they will go away.
Mike Hedges AM said,
“Constituents working for ABMU health board have told me that they feel as though they are being treated like second-class citizens and that someone doing exactly the same job with the same responsibilities is paid as much as £2,000 more at a neighbouring health board. I have emphasised to the union, the importance of continued dialogue to resolve the dispute and will next week be having that discussion with ABMU.”
Mark Turner, UNISON organiser said,
“The sense of anger amongst sterilisation workers on strike on Wednesday was very powerful. They are utterly determined to fight for what is theirs by right. We want to resolve this dispute quickly and have put a number of compromise proposals to the health board but after more than two years of discussions, the board just isn’t listening.
“They showed a desire to resolve a parallel pay dispute with the x-ray departments, so why isn’t there the same willingness to reach an agreement for the sterilisation and disinfection unit workers? Our plea to the health board is: make us a fair offer.”