Gloucestershire Hospital (UNISON) Strike Calendar

Phlebotomists in Gloucestershire are currently engaged in the longest-ever walkout by NHS employees, marking their 236th day of industrial action.

The 36 specialist staff have been striking since March, demanding fair pay for the skills and expertise required for their job of taking and handling blood samples.

Placing the workers on the correct pay band is estimated to cost the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust around £60,000 annually.

The union asserts that the required pay increase, amounting to an additional £1.09 per hour, would resolve the dispute immediately.

Despite having lost 236 days' pay, the workers remain committed to achieving recognition for their contributions.

The trust has consistently refused to grant the requested increase, resulting in ongoing disruption to services and patients.

Senior union leaders and supporters are scheduled to join the striking staff for a rally in Gloucester to highlight the action.

The union claims that similar conflicts within the NHS have been settled without resorting to industrial action.