AGENCY workers in London have told their union that they are “ready to go to the barricades” over a new pay scheme whose introduction would cause them to miss a week’s wages.

General union GMB has said that that hospital workers contracted by multinational outsourcing company ISS are “hopping mad” over the company’s proposals to switch workers from being paid weekly to fortnightly.

The agency, which employs the caterers, cleaners and porters at Kingston Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Queen Mary’s Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital, say that the move to “pay harmonisation” would save costs.

But the GMB, which organises ISS workers, says the workers will suffer a shortfall in pay if the proposals go ahead.

The company’s suggestion that members who may struggle to deal with the pay shortfall should take out loans to keep them financially afloat has further angered staff.

This is not the first time that tensions have arisen between ISS and its workers. A recognition agreement for the GMB for ISS workers at Kingston Hospital proposed last month carried a stipulation that union members must not raise workplace issues with parliamentary representatives, leading the government to warn that the company could be held in contempt of Parliament.

GMB organiser Helen O’Connor said: “ISS have completely alienated their workforce in Kingston Hospital by failing to meet the most basic demand for sick pay from day one.

“It is outrageous that a multimillion-pound global company like ISS are demanding that low-paid workers take out a loan to enable the company to change the pay cycle so that they can further boost their profits.

“These workers live hand-to-mouth and their lives will collapse if they have to live a week without pay.

“Many won’t be able to secure any sort of credit for themselves and their families to tide them over.

“ISS workers across the hospitals are hopping mad over this latest injustice and they have made it clear to their union that they are ready to go to the barricades over this.”

ISS has been contacted for comment.