Cambridge hospital staff to rally over pay dispute
Dozens of workers are set to take part
Dozens of staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge are set to rally today (Wednesday) in a row over pay.
Workers such as porters, clinical engineering technicians and genomics scientists are some of those expected to call for fairer pay to cope with the cost of living.
Unite the union has claimed staff at Addenbrooke's receive no extra pay for working in Cambridge, and that high costs are stopping workers from coming to the hospital, meaning they are further away from patients.
"Cambridge is a very expensive city to live in but while the cost of living has risen, workers’ wages have stagnated," Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said.
"Our hardworking members who do demanding, important jobs should not be struggling to afford the basics and should be able to live near where they work. Unite completely supports them in their campaign for fair pay."
Cost of living a 'significant concern' - Trust
Unite want staff to receive a NHS high cost area supplement (HCAS) to help cover bills while living and working in the city.
The union believes a 5% HCAS payment - given to NHS workers in Oxford and London - will be enough to make it more affordable for staff to live in Cambridge.
A spokesperson for the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Addenbrooke's - said it is supporting workers with the cost of living.
“We recognise the cost of living in Cambridge is a significant concern and as a Trust we are working with staff to help support them," the spokesperson said.
"This includes measures such as subsidised car parking, free public transport options to the hospital site, financial wellbeing advice and support, as well as a scheme that allows staff to access part of their monthly earnings early to help ease the pressure.”
The Trust said it also directs staff to finding an affordable place to live when they leave hospital accommodation.
University strikes continue
Last month, Unite members who work at Cambridge University started to walk out amid calls to give them the same bonus payment as workers at the University of Oxford to cope with high rents and bills.
One worker on the picket line told us that she heard of colleagues "going to food banks and that's not on."
A spokesperson for Cambridge University said it has introduced "several measures" to tackle the challenges around cost of living.
"(This includes) a supplement of 2.5% of basic pay for employees on lower pay grades, raising the minimum starting salary for research assistants and increasing paid family leave."
University staff are set to strike until the end of this week.