THE GMB accused outsourcing giant ISS today of having lied about not having a recognition agreement with the union at Kingston Hospital.

The “facility services” firm has consistently briefed to local and national publications, including the Morning Star, that Unison is the recognised trade union at the west London hospital.

GMB says the firm has also relayed this information to Health Minister Matt Hancock in discussions relating to a dispute at the west London hospital.

However, documents seen by the Star show that the company also signed a recognition agreement with the GMB in 1995.

The union is currently campaigning to ensure that caterers, porters and other staff at Kingston are paid the London living wage, currently £10.55 per hour, and appropriate sick pay.

In February, ISS attempted to resolve the dispute by offering GMB a recognition agreement that would have prevented union members raising workplace issues with politicians.

This led front-bench Tory MP David Lidington to warn ISS that it may be held in contempt of Parliament.

At a meeting between workers, union officials and the Kingston Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, GMB southern regional secretary Paul Maloney presented management with the agreement.

Mr Maloney told the Star: “We explained that the trust are getting an inferior service for more money than they would pay to directly employ staff.

“The profits that ISS are making are being made off the back of workers in so far as the terms and conditions that they would normally get.

“Why should they suffer this?”

Regarding the recognition agreement, Mr Maloney said: “I produced to the trust’s board a copy of the recognition agreement the GMB has got with ISS, signed back in 1995.

“ISS has gone on record telling ministers and MPs, the public and the press, that GMB are not the recognised union and that there is another union they have recognised.

“So, effectively, they have lied to ministers, MPs, the public and press, and I have produced that evidence and given it to the trust’s board.

“The question I put to the trust’s board: If they’re lying to the Health Minister, then why would they tell the trust’s board the truth?”

When contacted by the Star the ISS only referred to the offer made in February, stating: “[GMB] was offered a recognition agreement but have declined to sign the agreement supplied. This is confirmed by the GMB’s own, earlier correspondence with MPs and various statements to the press.”