Striking for 236 days, phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals are now staging a rally in Gloucester. UNISON calls it the longest-running strike in NHS history, over demands for fair pay and re-banding
After 236 days on strike, phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Hospitals have taken their fight to the streets of Gloucester in a high-profile rally. UNISON says this marks the longest-running NHS strike history, highlighting the ongoing struggle of frontline staff demanding fair pay, proper recognition, and better working conditions. The rally draws attention not only to the phlebotomists’ dedication but also to broader issues affecting NHS workers nationwide.
Longest NHS strike ever continues
In Gloucester, 36 specialist staff who take and handle blood samples from patients have been on strike since March 2025 in a dispute over being paid fairly for the skills and expertise required for their roles.
Placing these staff members on the right pay band would cost the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust approximately £60,000 per year. By paying staff correctly, this would recognise the valuable work that the employees do for health services.
UNISON has calculated that the cost of ensuring all the trust’s phlebotomists are on the correct wages is just a quarter of chief executive Kevin McNamara’s 2024/25 annual salary of around £245,000*.
An extra £1.09 per hour would resolve strike action
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak, and other union leaders joined staff and supporters of the phlebotomists from across the South West at a rally at Shire Hall, Gloucester, on 17 November 2025.
This dispute could end immediately if the trust agreed to pay staff an additional £1.09 per hour, bringing them into the correct pay band. Similar disputes in the NHS have been resolved without industrial action.
The trust has outright refused to grant the increase for phlebotomists at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals, causing ongoing disruption to services and patients.
Despite losing 236 days’ pay, the workers remain determined to win the recognition they deserve, the union says.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “It takes a lot of skill to put patients at ease and get them through an experience that makes many people go weak at the knees.
“But these essential workers are unfairly being paid the lowest rate in the NHS. That in no way reflects the very skilled work they do. Everyone, apart from senior managers, can see that this is wrong.
“The trust should stop being so bloody-minded and pay these dedicated staff what they’re due.”
UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent said: “The phlebotomists are standing up not just for themselves, but for every health worker who’s been undervalued and overlooked.
“It’s time the trust listened and ended the longest strike of NHS workers in history.”
