The workers have been campaigning since 2023 to be regraded to the next band of the NHS Agenda for Change salary scale because their jobs have become increasingly complex over the years.

In 2024, the trust moved the workers up a band, but an agreement couldn't be reached over how much compensation each affected employee should receive for the many years they were effectively underpaid.

At the same time, managers decided two years' back pay would be sufficient, an amount the healthcare assistants and Unison said wouldn't be enough to end the dispute.

In a consultation, the workers rejected the two-year offer, but the trust paid it anyway. 

Unison says the trust is refusing to meet its demands for a fairer compensation package for all the years staff worked above their grade.

Across the trust, 96% of staff said they would be prepared to walk out.

Northern regional secretary, Clare Williams, said: ‘These health staff say the imposed amount is not a good reflection of all the extra work they've done. They've been carrying out complicated tasks, yet being paid the lowest hourly rate in the NHS.'

In response, a Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson, said: ‘We worked in partnership with our trade union colleagues last year and reached an agreement in principle to re-band the role of nursing assistant from Band 2 to Band 3 with effect from 1 July 2024, with an agreement to pay back pay monies to 1 April 2022. We acted quickly to make the banding changes and pay back pay to those who were entitled to it before Christmas (2024).

‘This industrial action is in relation to further retrospective re-banding and back pay, additional to the two years that has already been paid.

‘We are proud of the longstanding and successful partnership relationships we have with our local trade union colleagues, and we will continue to work together on this matter. As always, we will do what is required to ensure the safe care of our patients.'