HOSPITAL workers held two further strike days as part of an ongoing dispute with their employer.

Staff from St Helens & Knowsley NHS Trust, employed by private contractor Compass, have taken part in a fifth round of strike action on Monday and Tuesday taking the total number of days of industrial action to 14 since July.

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The strikes are over what union Unison says is the company’s failure to match health service pay rates and working conditions.

The dispute had initially seen the the union cite "unequal pay" as workers had received the minimum wage rate of £8.21 an hour, yet colleagues who are employed directly by the NHS, where the lowest rate is £9.03 an hour.

Compass has since given a 16 per cent rise to the hourly rate of pay for domestic and catering staff and security and porter employees have received a 14 per cent increase, backdated from October.

However, strike action took place this week as Unison says there has not yet been a commitment for pay rises to be in line with NHS staff.

The union says workers receive only statutory sick pay, whereas their NHS colleagues are able to access a comprehensive sick pay scheme.

St Helens' Labour general election candidates Conor McGinn and Marie Rimmer joined staff on the picket line at Whiston Hospital with Unison general secretary Dave Prentis in attendance.

St Helens Star:

Conor McGinn, Marie Rimmer, Dave Prentis, George Howarth and Cllr Graham Morgan of Knowsley Council

A spokesperson for Medirest, of Compass, said: “People are at the heart of our business and we are committed to resolving this issue.

"We can confirm that we have now provided new improved contract terms to our domestic and catering employees at St Helens & Knowsley, who have received a 16 per cent increase in their hourly rate of pay, and our security and porter employees who have received a 14 per cent increase, backdated from October 1, 2019.

"This pay increase is notably above the rate initially requested and in addition, employees will receive additional pay for working unsocial hours and enhanced sickness benefit."

They added: “We have been in discussions with Unison for a number of months and are due to meet with them again this week, despite not having a formal recognition agreement with them.

"We were disappointed that three previous substantive offers made to our employees based at St Helens & Knowsley were rejected.

"We have given employees the option to opt-out if they do not wish to accept these new terms but so far none have declined the offer.

"However, we have listened to the concerns raised by our employees and believe these new terms are very fair. We continue to recognise the right of our employees to strike and our focus is to ensure that we maintain our duty of care and the high standards expected from Medirest and our Trust clients.”