Derriford hospital care assistants named Organising Reps of the Year at Get Active awards

Health Care Assistants, Imaging Care Assistants and Maternity Care Assistants at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth have been named the winners of this year’s Eric Roberts Organising Rep of the Year award at UNISON South West’s Get Active event.

The award recognises their extraordinary organising campaign which saw over 1,600 staff receive compensation and rebanding thanks to the team’s leadership, determination and refusal to back down.

Over an 18-month period, this group of mostly new UNISON reps fought for recognition and fairness for their colleagues. They led a strategic and powerful campaign including five days of industrial action, worker meetings, an ACAS-led negotiation process and relentless workplace organising.

Despite facing employer hostility and poor treatment from sister unions, they delivered a landmark agreement that included:

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  £5,000 compensation for up to five years of underpayment

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  Rebanding to Band 3 for nearly all affected staff

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  Retention of increment dates and top-of-band pay for the majority

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  Inclusion of Imaging Care Assistants, Maternity Care Assistants and apprentices in the final deal

Throughout the campaign, the team organised enormous worker meetings, built a 1,000-strong WhatsApp group, walked wards to answer member questions, and turned out a 98% vote for industrial action. Membership in the workplace grew from just 125 to nearly 600. Ten new reps were recruited, including health and safety and JSNC reps, and discussions have begun to expand facility time and repair partnership working with the employer.

UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent said:

“This team of reps have shown what can happen when workers lead their own campaign. They grew our union, held the employer to account, and won an agreement that transforms the lives of their colleagues.

“Despite exhaustion, opposition and setbacks, they stuck together and achieved something truly remarkable. They are a credit to our union and an inspiration to us all.”