Hospital workers back strike action over pay dispute

Hospital workers have backed strike action in a row over pay, trade union UNISON has said.

Staff employed by Serco at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon have reportedly not received a pay rise of at least £1,655 that has been given to other NHS workers, the union claims.

Serco's workers carry out non-medical roles such as porters. All staff who took part in a ballot have backed striking on dates yet to be announced.

Serco said it was disappointed that UNISON members had voted for strike action and would continue to work with the union to find a "mutually acceptable outcome to this issue".

UNISON said a wage deal was agreed from June 2023 for staff on NHS contracts at the hospital, which included a one-off payment for the previous financial year.

The union said Serco is refusing to honour this payment for its workers in Swindon.

UNISON's south west regional manager Jayne Jackson said that all NHS workers "deserve to be paid fairly".

“With an operating profit of more than £249m for 2023, the company can easily afford to pay," Ms Jackson said.

"It’s simply unjust that hard working and low-paid NHS workers should have to take industrial action to get the money they’re entitled to and deserve."

A Serco spokesman said: "Serco has a great relationship with our colleagues and UNISON at the hospital and we are as disappointed as they are that our NHS funding application for the non-consolidated agenda for change bonus has not been successful."

A spokesperson for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust added: “A total of 59 Serco company staff working in housekeeping and portering at the Great Western Hospital have voted in favour of industrial action.

“While the pay dispute is between Serco and UNISON, the trust is working closely with Serco to ensure the impact of the strike action on service and care delivery remains minimal.”

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