Workplace Report July 2015

Bargaining news

Win for hospital porters

At the end of June, a long running dispute involving Unite members employed as porters by NHS Tayside was resolved after employers made an improved pay offer. The porters, who were amongst the lowest paid workers in the NHS, had been taking continuous strike action for twelve weeks at Ninewells and Royal Victoria hospitals in Dundee.

The dispute was settled with a deal giving the porters an immediate 7% pay rise, increasing to 20% by the end of the deal.

The deal also involved a financial settlement recognising the period of time the porters considered they had been underpaid.

The settlement means that 14 porters who had been on a zero-hours contract and who had had their contracts terminated during the dispute were reinstated on permanent contracts.

www.unitetheunion.org/news/unite-hails-justice-for-nhs-tayside-porters-as-strike-action-ends