On 16 March, phlebotomists and other specialist blood workers at Gloucester Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals went back to work with their heads held high.
By Matt Hirst
The workers, who are organised in the public sector union UNISON, had been on strike for almost one year. They have been able to beat back what appeared to be an intransigent NHS Trust, who wanted to continue with a miserly pay rate under Band 2. Workers were fighting for Band 3.
Now, their pay review will now be carried out by an independent job evaluation panel, rather than by the trust. This was the longest strike of directly-contracted NHS workers ever, with a total of 349 days of strike action taken since 17 March 2025. This victory is testament to the determination of these vital workers.
This strike was not only about pay, but about the job gradings themselves. The Gloucestershire NHS Trust wanted to reclassify these specialists, who deal with some 300 complex blood test procedures as ‘Healthcare Support Workers’. Had the trust been successful in imposing this downgrade, others could have followed suit and attempted to implement similar policies.
Unite the battles across the NHS
Whilst the resident doctors’ strikes continue with strikes from 7-13 April, there is also a looming dispute between the Labour government and GPs over the imposition of a new contract. This would force GPs to ensure unlimited same-day access to patients with clinically urgent needs, and forbid practices from capping the number of consultation requests they respond to.
In reality, these proposals are completely unworkable given that GPs are already stretched to breaking point through lack of funding. The phlebotomists’ partial victory is a small sign of what can be won by workers taking determined action. The battle to keep phlebotomy remains. But the workers have won this round.
UNISON should now take a lead and start campaigning nationally for all phlebotomists to be on Band 3, linking this fight up with other workers in the NHS taking action over pay and conditions. A united fight across healthcare can see wins extracted from this weak and crisis-ridden Labour government.
