Health workers in Lancashire strike in dispute over lack of sick pay and unsocial hours payments

Health staff employed by private contractor OCS today (Wednesday) begin a 72-hour strike at a number of locations operated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust, says UNISON. The 50 workers include porters, caterers and cleaners who are employed by the healthcare facilities firm at eight NHS sites across Lancashire. They want the same sick pay and annual holiday as the NHS staff they work alongside. OCS employees at hospitals, mental health units and clinics in Blackburn, Blackpool, Ormskirk and Preston are striking until Friday (1 July). Earlier this year, UNISON successfully negotiated an increase to the workers’ hourly pay rates, bringing them into line with staff employed directly by the NHS. This meant a 69p increase, taking the workers to £10.19 an hour. But OCS workers are still not getting extra money for night, weekend or bank holiday shifts that their NHS counterparts receive. And they only get statutory sick pay (less than £100 a week), meaning many can’t afford to be off, says UNISON. UNISON North West regional organiser Dale Ollier said: “Strikes are always a last resort, but workers have no other way to make themselves heard. They deserve to be treated and paid the same as those working for the NHS. “OCS workers do the same jobs as many NHS colleagues but they miss out on sick pay when they’re ill, are paid less when they work unsocial hours or weekends and are given fewer days off. “Working for firms in other sectors is becoming far more at...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: News Press release Dale Ollier healthcare NHS OCS private healthcare provider Source Type: news