Frontline health workers vote ‘yes’ to strike action at sites across Lancashire

Health workers employed by private company OCS at Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action, says UNISON today (Friday). The 50 staff, including porters, caterers and cleaners, work for the healthcare facilities firm at eight NHS sites across Lancashire. They are asking for the same sick pay and annual holiday as staff directly employed by the NHS. The workers are employed at hospitals, mental health units and clinics in Blackburn, Blackpool, Ormskirk and Preston and are expected to strike for 72 hours from Wednesday 29 June to Friday 1 July. Until April this year, OCS staff were paid less per hour than NHS colleagues doing the same jobs. Pressure from UNISON led to the trust and OCS agreeing last summer to match NHS pay rates. This meant a 69p increase to £10.19 an hour for the workers. But, unlike employees working directly for the NHS, OCS workers get no extra money for night, weekend or bank holiday shifts. If OCS employees fall ill, they get only statutory sick pay of less than £100 a week. This means many are forced to keep working when unwell because they can’t afford to be off, potentially putting patients at risk, says UNISON. Colleagues employed by the NHS receive their full wages when ill. But both the employer and trust have refused to raise sick pay, annual leave or evening/weekend allowances. They also won’t agree to backdate the wage increase to May 2021, which is when the workers’ pay comp...
Source: UNISON meat hygiene - Category: Food Science Authors: Tags: News Press release agenda for change OCS private contractors Source Type: news