SCIENTISTS who carry out vital coronavirus infection tests are launching industrial action over a pay contract which they say is costing them £7,000 a year.

The 14 biomedical scientists, employed by the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, have voted unanimously for industrial action.

They will start a three-month work to rule on Monday December 7 that will involve a ban on late night and weekend working.

The scientists, who analyse samples taken from patients admitted with Covid-19, are being underpaid by £7,000 a year due to a grading system imposed by the NHS trust, according to Unite.

Unite regional officer Keith Hutson said: “We have a hard-line trust management that is not prepared to pay the going rate for the job for essential NHS workers even at a time of national emergency.

“This issue has been dragging on for over a year.” 

The trust have been asked to comment.