Hospital staff in protest against lack of pay rise
A CROWD of West Middlesex Hospital staff picketed their place of work to protest against low wages
A group of up to 50 Unison members who work at the hospital as porters, cleaners and catering staff, all gathered outside the Isleworth hospital chanting “we can’t survive on minimum wage” on Thursday.
The protesters, who are employed by NHS contracted company ISS, say “enough is enough” and that their repeated pleas for a pay rise from ISS over the past year “have been rebuffed”.
In a Unison flyer sent out ahead of the protest, West Middlesex workers claimed both the Chelsea and Westminster Trust, which runs the hospital, and ISS have “refused to talk to us regarding pay”.
The picket marked the latest stage in a long-running stand-off between ISS staff and their employers, which dates back to 2002.
Angry protesters claimed they are paid £3.32 less per hour than hospital staff in the same roles in nearby Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
According to Unison that is because staff at Chelsea and Westminster hospital are paid the minimum NHS outer London pay rate, which is £11.15 per hour.
Speaking at the protest, hospital porter and Unison member Severin Hounzame, who led the chanting, said: “We work for ISS cleaning the hospital and making sure patients are in a safe and clean environment and at the end of the day what do we receive? £7.83 [an hour] – that’s a shame!”
“We transport blood, we transport patients through the hospitals and what do we get? £7.83.
“We can’t live on that, staff cannot sustain their family on £7.83. We want a change and to be paid the same wage NHS staff are paid – that is the only way we can survive.”
ISS has been contacted for comment. Pressure Washing & Repairs