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AGENCY workers employed by outsourcing giant ISS held a day of protest across London hospitals today against pay changes that could see them out of pocket for up to three weeks.
Hundreds of catering staff, cleaners, security guards and porters at Kingston Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Surrey and Borders Trust and Queen Elizabeth Hospital protested against their agency changing their pay from being weekly to fortnightly.
Sharon, our member at Princess Royal Hospital, doesn’t deserve the way ISS are treating her and all our members. “We work with all our hearts.” pic.twitter.com/DahmN2yzL6
— GMB Southern Region (@GMBSouthern) April 11, 2019
The company say that this is a “pay harmonisation scheme.”
But workers have claimed that they will struggle to pay the bills as a result of the company’s change in pay structure.
In recent negotiations, the GMB has urged ISS management to pay staff three weeks in advance, in order to avoid workers going hungry. ISS refused to do this, and told the union that the workers could apply for a hardship loan from the company instead.
This has led to the GMB establishing foodbanks for staff at hospitals such as Kingston, where its members claim that some workers are facing poverty and hunger.
Dave, a porter and union rep, told the Star: “The contribution that we all give to the hospital is the human touch, patients need it.
“But there comes a point where our patients need that and we can’t give it because of stress.
“I can barely talk to people this week because I’m so stressed out, and it’s the same for a lot of us.
“I spoke to a lady today who said she couldn’t afford the £2 monthly fee for the union – that really cut me.
“If she can’t afford that, how can she afford the pay plans?
“ISS is destroying people.”
GMB regional organiser Helen O’Connor said that anger over the scheme is increasing.
She added: “We’ve had four groups of workers coming out today, and more and more are getting in touch with us to discuss action.
“Workers don’t want to strike but the company is pushing us down that road and people can’t take it any more.
“ISS management have shown no ability to understand the concerns of the people they employ.”
