University staff and physiotherapists stage third wave of strike action
Following nurses and ambulance staff strikes at the beginning of this week, industrial unrest continues to sweep the country as physiotherapists and university staff hit the picket lines.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) will stage walkouts today in disputes over pay, working conditions and pensions.
It is estimated that around 4,500 members of the CSP will strike at 33 trusts in England, this follows a strike on 26th January in which 4,200 physiotherapists and support staff were called on to walk out at 30 trusts across the country.
The CSP accused the government of being ‘intransigent’ in refusing to discuss pay for the current financial year, which has sparked walkouts across the NHS in recent months. The organisation added, that apart from one 45-minute meeting last month, the government has refused to discuss the pay dispute.
Claire Sullivan, Director of Employment Relations at the CSP, said: ‘Our members are sick and tired of hearing the UK government claim they are open to talks with the health unions when they have not lifted a finger to avert strikes in England.
‘They have made no attempt to address this year’s pay dispute, with the only meeting in early January focusing on next year instead – there was no meaningful discussion of the central issue causing the dispute.
‘This is outrageous at a time when the NHS is facing the direst of workforce crises with damaging consequences for both staff and their patients.’
Alongside this, Florence – a tech platform which helps tackle the shortage of healthcare staff globally – conducted research into the dire status of the healthcare sector and found 63% of nurses and healthcare workers are having to choose between food and fuel to combat rising energy bills, whilst almost one in five are turning to food banks.
Whilst physiotherapist are striking today, emergency-life saving care including covering intensive care and respiratory on-call services will still be available.
In addition to physiotherapists, around 70,000 members of the UCU are also striking today, with disruption set to take place in 150 universities.
The UCU expects 2.5 million students will be affected by the decision to strike, but the National Union of Students have supported the decision. Further strikes are due to take place on Friday after the union rejected a pay offer from employers, with 15 more days of walkouts planned across February and March.
The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), representing 144 employers, said it has made a ‘full and final pay offer’ of between 5% and 8%, but UCU General Secretary, Jo Grady, has described the offer as a ‘huge real-terms pay cut’ that would leave members ‘worse off’.
Photo by Alex Motoc