Hundreds of hospital staff are on strike today in protest at the new national pay system for the NHS.
Around 600 porters, catering staff and cleaners are taking industrial action at four hospitals in Newcastle in protest at the health service's Agenda for Change pay agreement, which unions claim has led to new recruits receiving higher salaries than existing equivalent staff.
The one-day walkout follows an overtime ban organised by the local branch of public service union Unison. The strike ends at midnight, but union leaders will meet on Wednesday to decide whether further strikes should be called.
Unison claimed there is flexibility within the national pay system to address the pay disparities, known as "leapfrogging", but local NHS managers claimed there is no room for manoeuvre.
Unison regional officer Ian Daley said the strike was a "demonstration of workers' anger", but stressed that the action was not affecting patient care.
He said: "We are available for negotiations at any time but management has point-blank refused to negotiate with us and still not indicated, since the strike started, that they are prepared to meet with us.
"It is going very well today and we have made a strong statement about the treatment of our members. It is a demonstration of their anger and they are receiving a great deal of support from those staff going in to work today."
Newcastle hospitals NHS trust, which oversees the four hospitals - Newcastle general, the Freeman, the Royal Victoria infirmary and the Walkergate - maintains it cannot stray from the national agreement.
A trust spokeswoman said: "The trust has been consistent about implementing the whole package. In essence, the issue is national not local, and at this time we are unable to determine where strike action is to be taken other than here in Newcastle."
