STRIKING health visitors protested outside the Senedd today after writing an open letter to the First Minister asking if he lied during the Senedd election campaign.

Unite Wales members have been on strike since February after Cwm Taf health board refused to pay them the correct salary after a job evaluation put them on a higher pay band, costing individuals some £9,000 per year.

Unite Wales has placed its open letter to FM Rhun ap Iorwerth as an advert in Welsh newspapers.

The letter says: “Before the May elections, you supported our cause in writing, promising that in government, Plaid Cymru would help end this dispute.

“You signed an open letter in April calling on the health board to honour agreed processes and upgrade all band 6 health visitors to band 7.”

The letter also points out that many strikers voted and campaigned for Plaid, and trusted the promises made.

“At best were you reckless with your promises, or is the question has Plaid lied?” The open letter said.

The striking health workers chanted outside the Senedd: “Mabon, Mabon where are you, have you lied, shame on you,” to Health Secretary Mabon ap Gwynfor.

At the end of August, the strikers rejected a one-off payment of just over £5,000, which Unite Wales described as “shocking and insulting,” by 99 per cent.

A Welsh government spokesperson did not respond to the letter to the FM, but said: “We recognise the concerns of the affected staff, who would not have taken the decision to strike lightly.

“We continue to urge both parties to get back round the table to find a solution in the interests of staff and families alike as soon as possible.”