Over 20,000 NHS hospital staff in the West Midlands will receive parking refunds after a campaign by UNISON.
The U-turn by University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust follows a challenge on behalf of 6,000 health workers by the union against the charges. Some employees could now get up to £800 each backdated to last August when UHB scrapped a commitment to offer free parking during the pandemic.
UNISON - the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy - says UHB has also agreed in principle to suspend further deductions until June. This is when the government is expected to lift all Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
The Department for Health and Social Care informed all trusts last March that they would receive immediate financial backing to provide free parking. However, UHB reimposed charges over the summer and used the extra funding elsewhere.
UNISON says the parking fees were an unfair levy on hardworking staff who were paying upwards of £100 a month.
UNISON West Midlands regional organiser Chanel Willis said: “These charges were unfair, inappropriate and essentially a tax on staff who have given their all during the pandemic.
“UHB shouldn’t have been charging employees for coming to work so everyone else could stay safe. UNISON is glad the Trust has seen sense and promised to refund the money.
“Hard-pressed staff should have been due a pay rise today and will appreciate the extra cash in their pockets.”
