Strike action is called for in row over hospital pay

Staff at a hospital are set to go on strike for a week in a row over pay, according to union bosses.

Cleaners and hostesses employed by outsourcing company Mitie at St George’s Hospital in Tooting will walk out from June 20 to 26.

There has already been three days of strikes from the workers, who are members of the GMB union – on May 30 and June 6 and 7.

GMB said the hospital faces seven days of strikes starting on June 20 after members on the picket line voted for the escalated action.

The dispute started over pay-cycle changes this year, which saw workers paid in mid-May rather than at the end of April.

The switch from four-weekly to monthly paydays meant they were paid on May 11m not April 29.

GMB wants staff contracts to be taken back in-house by St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It has warned cleaning services will be disrupted unless the trust gets “around the table with GMB to help resolve this dispute”.

Mitie has previously said the restructuring means workers are paid on the same date each month and receive a regular base salary each payday.

The company claimed staff called the move a “significant improvement” and that it offered workers an interim payment while the changes were made.

Helen O’Connor, regional organiser at GMB, said: “Members want the trust to take the contract back in-house so that they can have the same pay, terms and conditions as other NHS staff.

“GMB members are very disappointed that the trust is not engaging in talks to resolve this dispute, which shows us that there is no urgency on the part of management to resolve the dispute. We’re open to talking to them and resolving this dispute.”

A St George’s spokesman said: “Mitie colleagues are hugely valued members of our team, and we hope Mitie finds a resolution soon.”

A Mitie spokesman said: “We are disappointed with the decision to take industrial action.

“Our people are what make our business exceptional and we are proud to offer industry-leading benefits.

Having already managed industrial action with no impact to our services or high standards of hygiene, our priority maintains ensuring a clean and safe environment for patients and staff.

We always welcome constructive conversations with GMB.”

 

Strike action from GMB union members employed by Mitie at St George’s Hospital in Tooting Picture: Helen O’Connor