Hospital staff victorious in securing basic wage pay deal
PORTERS, cleaners and support staff at three major West London hospitals have finally secured a pay deal, which means they will get the very basic wage for London workers.
The hundreds of workers will see their pay increase to the London Living Wage of £10.55 per hour – some are currently on just £8.21. It will commence in April 2020, but workers will also get backdated pay to November 1. The announcement was made on November 4 by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs St Mary’s, Charing Cross and Hammersmith hospitals.
Responding to the news, a cleaning supervisor at St Mary’s, Loreta Younsi, said: “It’s a victory, we feel very good about it.”
It follows negotiations with trade union Unison and an investment of about £1 million by the Trust.
Professor Tim Orchard, chief executive of the Trust, said: “I am really pleased that, following a review of our mid-year financial position, we are able to support pay rises for our cleaning, portering and other essential facilities staff sooner than planned.
“I am grateful to Sodexo, UNISON and our support staff for the positive collaborative working that has helped to make this development possible.”
The workers are currently contracted to work at the hospital by French multinational firm Sodexo, whose contract with the Trust ends in April next year.
Ms Younsi added that some cleaners who had been working at the Trust since before Sodexo had the contract will also be paid £10.85.
The Trust has been hit by protests and strikes this year over pay and working conditions.
The GMB union organised demonstrations outside Hammersmith and Charing Cross hospitals in April and July over “poverty pay”.
On October 31, the United Voices of the World union organised a three-day strike by 150 porters and cleaners at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.