Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Strike warning as union fights NHS deal over porters
Union officials have warned of strike action as they call for the east Kent hospitals trust to cancel its outsourcing deal with Serco.
The GMB accuses the contractor of creating a two-tier workforce because it fails to maintain the same pay and conditions as employees who work directly for the hospitals trust.
At present the trust outsources portering and domestic and catering services to Serco – which the union wants returned in-house.
Gary Palmer, the GMB’S regional NHS campaigns organiser, is appealing directly to trust chief executive Matthew Kershaw.
“We are clear that we will not accept privatisation of the NHS in any form and we will campaign to see all health services back in-house where they belong,” Mr Palmer said.
“We will continue to call for Matthew Kershaw to remove Serco from the contract and bring services back in-house before the June 2019 review date.”
Members of the GMB have in the past held four-hour walkouts at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital amid charges they are “overworked and underpaid”.
The union is calling on Serco to bring pay and conditions for its staff in line with those directly employed by the trust.
Mr Palmer said: “Serco has told GMB that the East Kent Hospital University NHS foundation Trust contract was not making enough money to be able to fund any increases for some of the lowest paid staff at the trust.
“This is simply not acceptable in light of Serco having seen profits increase along with bonuses and share schemes for those at the top grow year-on-year.
“It’s time they did the right thing and completely incorporate and rationalise all terms and conditions and bandings into all employees’ contracts working at the trust.
“Serco must look to settle local issues with GMB and its mem- bers to avoid any potential industrial escalation.
“Otherwise what choice will members have if they won’t meet their commitments and promises and Mr Kershaw won’t seek involvement on behalf of the Trust to pursue a settlement? What is the problem with just doing what is right?”
Serco denies that it treats staff unfairly.
Its contract director Lesley Juett said: “We believe strongly in ensuring colleagues are rewarded fairly in line with their contracts and do not recognise the GMB’S assertions.
“All our pay rates will be increased at least in line with the NHS Agenda for Change uplifts from April 1 and we’ll be writing to colleagues to confirm their new rates of pay over the coming weeks.”
Hospitals trust spokesman Steve James said: “The GMB has been advised that any decision to bring services back in house would need to be fully considered and approved by the Trust board of directors.
“The Serco contract is not due for consideration until June 2019 and at this point there is no opportunity for the Trust to consider an alternative strategy before then.
“The issues raised by the GMB will be considered by the Trust.”