Next week could be a turning point for NHS Tayside pharmacy support workers after over two months of strike action outside Perth Royal Infirmary.
Unite the union, which is representing the industrial action for a higher pay grade, has confirmed a consistency panel to decide a final outcome for the pharmacy support staff on Tuesday, October 29.
That will follow a panel meeting that was set to take place yesterday, October 24.
The NHS Tayside employees have been on continuous sit-out since August 19, angry that they are on one of the lowest pay grades in the health trust.
The dispute relates to an evaluation process that Unite believes was flawed.
Currently, pharmacy support workers are being paid at a lower grade than they feel they should be.
NHS Tayside admitted the historic job evaluation process was not followed through to its rightful conclusion and the workers were not given a right of appeal.
Unite has repeatedly aired its frustrations over the lack of urgency shown by the Scottish Government to help settle the dispute.
The union first wrote to Jeane Freeman MSP, the cabinet secretary for health and sport, back in August, in advance of industrial action seeking an urgent meeting due to the collapse of an independent panel, which had been agreed with NHS Tayside in order to deal with the appeals process.
A meeting with the cabinet secretary is now scheduled to take place on November 19, which will be three months after the start of industrial action.
Following the collapse of two previously arranged job evaluation panels, a panel made up of members from the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC) was set to convene yesterday. The consistency panel will meet next Tuesday to deliver an outcome on the long-running dispute.
Susan Robertson, Unite regional industrial officer, said: “After two months of continuous strike action there is now some light at the end of this long tunnel for NHS Tayside pharmacy support workers.
“We have repeatedly sought to bring a positive resolution to the dispute only for the workers to have been ignored and treated with disregard.
“The workers have taken a brave and courageous stand to secure justice at their workplace.
“We now hope that once the STAC panel convenes the overwhelming evidence presented to them will ensure our members get the outcome they rightfully deserve and they can get back to work.”
