The phlebotomists who take blood samples from patients have been walking out since March in a dispute over pay Author: Alan Jones, PAPublished 2 hours ago Healthcare workers involved in a long running dispute over pay reach their 200th day of strike action on today (October 11). Members of Unison at Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals have been on strike since March. They work as phlebotomists, taking blood samples from patients, at both hospitals.