Re: Glasgow healthworkers5 deal ends strike threat by ancillary work

Date: 13th Aug '02

Name: Roibeard

Country: Alba

5 deal ends strike threat by ancillary workers
KAY JARDINE The Herald

PRIVATE ancillary workers at one of Scotland's biggest hospitals yesterday agreed to a new pay deal, bringing a series of strikes to an end.

Union officials representing around 300 cleaners, porters and catering staff at Glasgow Royal Infirmary said the deal amounted to a "major victory".

The workers are employed by the French firm, Sodexho, which has the contract to provide catering and cleaning services to the hospital. They had last night threatened to stage the third strike in as many weeks over their demand for better pay and terms.

Carolyn Leckie, Unison branch secretary, said the deal was a major success for the trade unions and the rights of low-paid workers. "This has been an overwhelming victory for some of the lowest-paid workers in Scotland, the minnows have taken on the giant of a multinational corporation and won," she said.

"All our demands will have been met by April 2004, which is a sweeping victory for the union movement."

Workers will receive a minimum 5 an hour, backdated to April 1 this year, along with a return to NHS terms and conditions by April 2004. The deal gives them time-and-a-half for overtime, with immediate effect, a 20% shift allowance, 10 public holidays, and improved holiday-sick pay.

Vital support services at Glasgow Royal Infirmary were crippled when staff walked out until their demands for a 5% pay rise were met. The industrial action, backed by opposition politicians, came after talks between Unison, the public sector union, and Sodexho broke down.

The union rejected a pay deal in its bid to strike 5-an-hour parity with ancillary staff employed by the NHS. Around 300 staff staged a blockade outside the main entrance to the hospital and stopped staff and delivery drivers from entering the building.

Tommy Sheridan, leader of the Scottish Socialist party, supported the strike action and welcomed the result.

He added: "These people do an essential job and are paid poverty wages. They had a moderate set of demands, and they fully deserved them to be met."

A spokesman for North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust said: "The trust are delighted that an arrangement has been reached between Sodexho and Unison and that the further three days of the strike have been averted.

"We had concerns that, had it proceeded, things might have had an adverse effect on patient care. This would not have been acceptable to the trust and we are therefore very pleased that both parties have reached an agreement."

Back to discussion page                    RA home page