MORE than 500 hospital workers have claimed victory after winning thousands of pounds in back pay following 13 days of strike action.

Clinical support workers at Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge hospitals by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Merseyside were to have staged 10 more days of strike action from Monday but have called the strike off.

Unison said that for years the workers had been paid a lower pay grade than their jobs merited. Some staff have been underpaid by £2,000 a year, the union said.

The workers will receive pay increases backdated to April 2018.

Backdated pay increases have now been won at eight NHS trusts in north-west England.

North West Unison regional organiser David McKnight said: “This is an important breakthrough allowing further talks to take place.

“Strike action has been tough, but workers were determined to win what they were owed. They should be proud of their achievement.”