Union: don’t forget all the other NHS workers

Public services union UNISON has written to employers urging them to remember all the staff working in the NHS but employed by private companies, and ensure they don’t miss out on any pay rise given to their colleagues. Health staff, porters, cleaners and catering assistants are some of those affected.

The union is seeking to persuade the companies, which include ones owned by individual NHS trusts, to increase hourly pay rates to at least match new NHS rates.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “NHS staff have the benefit of a national pay system but those not directly employed are missing out, often because of complex contracting arrangements, penny-pinching practices and the hard-nosed pursuit of profit.”

• UNISON has reached an agreement which it says will ensure job security during the merger of the Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital trusts.

East Midlands regional organiser, Gareth Eales, commented: “I’m delighted we have secured a job protection agreement with the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Group to secure over 10,000 jobs. An agreement that extends until the end of 2024, at which time we will review it.”

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire chief people officer Mark Smith, added: “This agreement is a fantastic way to offer certainty to our staff. We want to grow and develop our colleagues in Northamptonshire, to ensure they can provide the best possible care to our patients.”

https://www.unison.org.uk/news/press-release/2021/08/army-of-invisible%e2%80%8b-yet-indispensible%e2%80%8b-cleaners-porters-and-caterers-must-be-included-in-nhs-pay-award

https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/news/article/2021/07/unison-job-protection-agreement-signed-by-university-hospitals-of-northamptonshire