Healthcare support staff in Ipswich and Colchester are looking at the possibility of picketing their workplace over a pay dispute they call a "nightmare before Christmas".
UNISON, who represents the workers, said that East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) is trying to give healthcare support workers in Ipswich and Colchester Hospital £3,000 less than they were promised in a recent pay agreement.
The union noted that they had reached an agreement with the trust in August to move support staff's salary band from two to three, with a recognition of staff doing more work than paid for.
However, they say that their staff has received thousands less than what was agreed.
ESNEFT say that they have been working with the union and will continue to do so to deliver the back pay.
The trust was said to have carried out calculations dating back to April 2018 to compensate their workers.
However, UNISON says the workers have not been paid as much as the agreed compensation and alleges that those on night and weekend shifts have not received any pay.
UNISON Eastern regional officer Lucas Bertholdi-Saad said: “The workers were delighted when the trust finally agreed to give them the respect, recognition and pay they deserved earlier this year.
“But they had a nightmare before Christmas when they discovered the money in their wage packets was thousands of pounds less than had been promised.
“East Suffolk and North Essex must do the right thing and give staff their due.”
“We have jointly agreed our approach with Unison and signed a memorandum of understanding. Some colleagues are receiving more than £4,000 in back pay.
“We will continue to work with Unison and talks are ongoing.”
