Specialist health workers who take patients’ blood have been striking for 236 consecutive days in what their union claim is the longest walkout in NHS history.
The 36 phlebotomists claim the clinical nature of the tasks they perform mean they should be on a higher NHS pay scale, worth an extra £1.09 an hour.
Bosses at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have refused to cede to their demands despite staff at other hospitals successfully arguing their case without the need for industrial action.
Union Unison say it would cost the trust £60,000 a year to regrade the affected workers – a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara’s annual salary of around £245,000.
It is understood there were 37 phlebotomists on strike when the walkout began March 17, with one having returned to work.
Their work at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals is being done by other staff, such as nurses.
Those taking part in the industrial action are receiving financial support from their union but it amounts to only a fraction of their salary, which is currently on the lowest rung of the NHS pay scale, known as Agenda for Change.
The length of the strike and the size of the rise they are seeking means they are likely to be significantly out of pocket even if they win their case, with sources saying their position is a matter of principle.
Kevin McNamara, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Christina McAnea, Unison general secretary, said: ‘It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and get them through an experience that makes many people go weak at the knees.
‘But these essential workers are unfairly being paid the lowest rate in the NHS.
‘That in no way reflects the very skilled work they do. Everyone apart from senior managers can see that this is wrong.
‘The trust should stop being so bloody-minded and pay these dedicated staff what they’re due.’
Kerry Baigent, Unison’s South West regional secretary, said: ‘The phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every health worker who’s been undervalued and overlooked.
‘It’s time the trust listened and ended the longest strike of NHS workers in history.’
Ms McAnea will today join TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, other union leaders and staff at a rally in Gloucester in support of the striking phlebotomists.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘The Agenda for Change pay system is based on a Job Evaluation Scheme, developed through collaboration between NHS leaders, trade unions and independent experts.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea
‘It is the responsibility of individual NHS organisations and trade unions to work in partnership to implement the scheme correctly.
‘We have recently agreed to several measures to support this and restore confidence in the scheme which are being taken forward by the NHS Staff Council.’
The trust said a number of meetings had been held in a bid to resolve the dispute, including involving the conciliation service Acas.
A statement said: ‘To date, Unison and the phlebotomist representatives have stated that they are not willing to discuss or accept the offer from the trust for a new band three healthcare support worker (HCSW) role for all phlebotomy staff.
‘This is despite the trust commitment to back-date the pay for this role to April 2025 and provide all the training required.
‘Instead, Unison has asked if the trust would consider an enhanced phlebotomy job description, which they will share with the trust by November 13 2025.
‘Unison have asked to rewrite the job description they submitted on June 27 2025 and for it be assessed by a job evaluation panel from another local trust.
‘This process is not in line with the national job evaluation handbook, but the trust will explore it as an option.
Ambulances waiting at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester
‘Unison have not yet committed to honouring the outcome in the event that another panel reaches a consensus about banding.’
Unison said it cannot say when this became the longest strike, nor what the previous longest is.
It has not been able to find reference to anything longer and no other union or trade group has countered their claim.
