STRIKE action aimed at Warrington and Halton HNS Foundation Trust is 'regrettable,' the trust has said.
Two days of industrial action are set to hit Warrington Hospital this week, beginning on Thursday morning and ending on Saturday.
The action is being coordinated by UNISON, which claims that many healthcare assistants are performing tasks that they are not being paid for - and are therefore owed backpay of thousands of pounds.
Today, Tuesday, the NHS trust has issued a statement in response.
The statement reads: "The trust is committed to making sure that healthcare support workers are paid the right banding for the work they do.
"From October 1, around 80 per cent of healthcare support workers at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals will have their pay uplifted from a band two to a band three.
"This reflects the different roles required across different parts of the organisation and the individual preferences of our healthcare support workers.
"The trust has also set up a working group to explore the issue of retrospective pay banding in the detail it deserves.
"The group includes healthcare support workers and local trade union representatives and is aiming to establish a fair way to resolve this complex issue as quickly as possible.
"Unfortunately, despite this commitment to work in partnership with trade unions, regional UNISON colleagues have decided to pursue strike action.
"While this is regrettable, we will continue to work to find a resolution for our healthcare support workers."
The statement continues: "We will be taking all appropriate actions to minimise any potential impact on our patients during this period of industrial action.
"Patients are asked to attend their hospital appointments unless they are directly contacted by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.
"Members of our communities can help by keeping the Emergency Department (Accident and Emergency) at Warrington Hospital free for emergencies and using alternative services including GPs, pharmacies and NHS 111 online for non-emergency health advice."
UNISON strike action will begin at 7am on Thursday, September 28, and end at 8am on Saturday, September 30.
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