Unions win right to overtime pay for all NHS workers fighting Covid-19 in England

All NHS workers putting in overtime to fight Covid-19 in England will be paid for every hour they work after an agreement was won with local Trusts today.

A group of 15 unions secured the deal for a standard overtime template, which will be applied locally at each Trust.

The unions include the British Association of Occupational Therapists, the British Dental Association, the British Dietetic Association, the British Orthoptists Society, Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the College of Podiatry, the Federation of Clinical Scientists, GMB, Managers in Partnership, the Prison Officers Association, the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of nursing, the Society of Radiographers, Unison and Unite.

“These are challenging times, and no one can deny the huge contribution staff across the NHS are making during the pandemic,” Sara Gorton, Head of Health at Unison, said.

“Every week, people have been on their doorsteps, drives and balconies to show their support and appreciation. They will be pleased that health staff who go the extra mile should soon be going home with more money in their pockets.”

However, she added that this agreement was just the first step in negotiating a nine-point plan published by the health unions early in the month.

This blueprint includes measures to ensure that NHS services currently on pause will be able to reopen safely, and demands on PPE, social distancing and pay.

Further, the unions will push for fair wages in the months ahead, as the UK recovers from Coronavirus.