The health visitors are paid as band six workers, despite internal job grading now matching them as a band seven, acknowledging a master's qualification.

The failure to pay them the correct salary based on their qualifications is costing them between £8,000 and £9,000 per year, according to Unite the union. The workers are set to strike for four weeks, from 23 February to 20 March.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: 'This is an outrageous ploy from a health board to try and avoid paying its essential staff the money they are worth.

'This is a significant pay difference that has left our members undervalued and underpaid. They have been left with little choice but to take strike action and will have the full support of Unite in this dispute.'

Unite regional officer, Paul Seppman, added: 'This is not a position our members want to be in, but are now left with no choice when they are being underpaid thousands of pounds a year. Cwm Taf Morgannwg has acted shamefully towards a group of female staff, who have now stood up against this appalling behaviour.

'This campaign will not stop at CTMUHB with this quickly becoming a national issue. Unite are taking this issue across all health boards in Wales and urging staff to join Unite the union and become part of the campaign to be paid what members rightfully deserve.'

In response, a spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said: ‘The health board has been in discussion with Unite and health visiting staff since a formal dispute was lodged in February 2024. The dispute asked for the Band 6 health visitor job description to be updated to reflect the duties of the role, and to re-evaluate the job. A process to review and agree the revised job description took place, facilitated by NHS Wales Employers. The job description, which was agreed in social partnership, was re-evaluated, and came out at the same band, Band 6. The job description was issued to health visiting staff and remains in effect.

‘The health board is aware that over recent years, there have been changes made to education requirements for health visitors as a result of decisions taken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which have more recently impacted national profiles for health visitor roles. The health board is committed to working through the implications of these changes in social partnership, as part of national discussions with trade unions.

‘We respect the rights of colleagues to take industrial action and will work with teams to minimise disruption to families across our communities as required.'

Unite is currently campaigning for all Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) members to review their Agenda for Change banding and ensure they are being paid correctly.