THE employer of hospital staff who are taking a fourth round of strike action over pay say they have made "three substantive offers" during the ongoing dispute.

Outsourced within NHS trusts in St Helens and Blackpool have announced a further six days of strike action beginning on Monday, October 14 taking place on alternate days.

Most of the hospital cleaners, caterers, porters, receptionists and security workers affected are paid only the minimum wage rate of £8.21 an hour, yet work alongside colleagues who are employed directly by the NHS, where the lowest rate is £9.03 an hour, says UNISON.

This difference of 82p an hour is worth around £1,500 a year for full-time staff, it adds.

St Helens Star:

A picket line outside Whiston Hospital during an earlier strike

On top of the lower hourly rate of pay, Compass staff are further disadvantaged by receiving no shift bonuses for working weekends and Bank Holidays and they receive only statutory sick pay, whereas their NHS colleagues are able to access a comprehensive sick pay scheme, the union adds.

UNISON claims Compass has made no genuine attempts to resolve the ongoing dispute.

UNISON regional organiser Pat Woolham said: “Hospital staff have asked their employer for one thing – fairness. Compass workers can’t reasonably be expected to give their all while working alongside colleagues who are being paid more than them.

“Compass has silenced its staff by targeting dedicated hospital workers who spoke out about the grave injustice that has driven them to take strike action.

“Then the multi-national company sent coach-loads of staff from around the country to cover the shifts of striking workers, paying through the nose to put them up in hotels.

“Now the latest Compass strategy is to ignore the concerns of its staff by refusing to negotiate over this issue."

She added that political and community support for the strikes is growing.

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Compass responded by stressing it has a duty of care to patients, their families and hospital staff and that during industrial action their focus is naturally to ensure necessary continuity plans are in place to maintain the high standards required which includes providing temporary staff as needed.

A spokesperson for Medirest, of Compass, said: “Medirest has been discussing pay agreements with all parties since May. Pay rates are set out in our client contracts and agreed in partnership with our NHS Trust clients. Three substantive offers have been made during this time to our employees based at St Helens & Knowsley, which is evidence of our commitment to finding a solution to this dispute.

“Whilst we are disappointed with UNISON’s decision to take industrial action, we recognise the right of our employees to take part in this strike. Our focus is to ensure that we maintain our duty of care and the high standards expected from Medirest and our Trust clients.”