Theatre nurses, healthcare assistants and support staff at Salford Royal Hospital joined colleagues across Greater Manchester this week in industrial action over unpaid overtime rates.
What staff are protesting
Members of UNISON stepped out on picket lines at Salford Royal, alongside staff at Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital (Bury) and Royal Oldham Hospital. The dispute centres on how extra shifts are paid when staff cover shortages.
Under their employment contracts, many staff say extra hours beyond full-time should be paid at time-and-a-half — their normal hourly rate plus an additional 50%. The union says a significant number of workers are instead being booked onto shifts through NHS Professionals, an internal staffing agency, and that this method reduces their take-home pay. UNISON claims staff can lose as much as £80 per shift compared with the contractual overtime rate.
"Theatre workers are ready to brave all conditions in their fight for fair overtime pay,"
The union posted on X (formerly Twitter) that staff were out in the rain outside several trust sites, and confirmed that action will continue through late October at the four Northern Care Alliance (NCA) hospitals involved.
Timing and planned action
Picket lines began on Monday 26 October and are scheduled to continue on Wednesday 28 October, with pickets active from 8:30am on those days. UNISON has also announced a combined rally for Friday 30 October, to be held at Salford Royal and Oldham Royal Hospital.
- Who is striking: theatre nurses, support staff and housekeepers who are NCA employees and UNISON members.
- Main complaint: extra shifts booked via NHS Professionals pay less than contractual overtime, costing some staff up to £80 per shift.
- Action planned: picket lines across four sites through late October, with a combined rally at Salford Royal and Oldham on 30 October.
| Hospital | Action | Dates mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Salford Royal Hospital | Picket lines and part of combined rally | 26 Oct, 28 Oct, 30 Oct |
| Rochdale Infirmary | Picket lines | 26 Oct, 28 Oct |
| Fairfield General (Bury) | Picket lines | 26 Oct, 28 Oct |
| Royal Oldham Hospital | Picket lines and part of combined rally | 26 Oct, 28 Oct, 30 Oct |
The action is limited to theatre and associated staff at the four sites and is focused on the contractual interpretation of overtime pay rather than a general pay rise, UNISON said.
Local consequences and context
Salford residents using hospital services should be aware of potential disruption to scheduled theatre lists, delayed procedures or reorganisation of cover while staff walk out. The NCA manages services across the four hospitals involved; how the trust responds to cover gaps — whether by reassigning staff, cancelling non-urgent operations or using agency cover — will determine the immediate impact on patients.
UNISON’s public messaging highlights the lived experience of staff who say they are being asked to fill rota gaps but then paid on terms that leave them worse off than their contracted entitlements. For many theatre staff, extra shifts are not a choice but a necessity to keep lists running and patients treated.
For campaigners and unions, the dispute is also an example of wider tensions across the NHS about use of internal staffing systems, agency labour and the erosion of contractual terms. The union has signalled it will pursue continued action until it secures commitments from the trust about how overtime is paid.
Officials at the Northern Care Alliance have been contacted for comment on the dispute and how they plan to manage theatre services during the action.
Salford residents who rely on planned operations or outpatient procedures at Salford Royal should check directly with their hospital or GP for any changes to appointments during the strike period.
