Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By John Williams (LGBT candidate for the Unite Executive Council)
Over 100 health visitors in Unite at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board (HB) are taking strike action for four weeks at the refusal of the HB to pay them the correct salary based on their qualifications which is costing them between £8000 to £9000 per year.
Health visitors do vital community outreach work for new mothers and families, but HB bosses refuse to acknowledge their skills by paying them as only band six workers. This is despite internal job grading now matching them as a band seven acknowledging a masters qualification.
Other Health Boards in Wales put their health visitors on the correct pay band. In Scotland they were put on band seven in 2017!
Reps Ceri and Jo started questioning the banding system at Cwm Taf Morgannwg in 2021 but management have stalled for five years, often refusing to discuss the issue at all. So the health visitors have been forced to begin one month’s strike action, but are prepared to keep fighting for as long as it takes.
They held a mass meeting outside the HB offices on day one of the strike with a vibrant rally, and supporters arriving from other Unite branches in South Wales, Cardiff Trades Council and health workers from afar afield as London and Gloucester. On March 10th they will be lobbying the Senedd. All trade unionists should come and support them.
Lobby the Senedd for fair pay Tuesday 10th March
