(GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network) – Posted by Jake Simpson – TheGayUK.com

Members have made it clear that if their demands aren’t met then they will be taking another two days of strike action over Christmas says GMB.

GMB, the union for health service workers, warned that last ditch talks on Thursday 18th December between GMB, ISS and the NHS Trust must make progress to resolve the long running dispute over the two tier workforce for over 200 members employed by ISS at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich to avert further strike action on 25th and 26th December.

Over 200 GMB members are employed by ISS at the hospital as cleaners, security, ward hostesses, caterers, on the switchboard and as porters.

GMB members have already held three days of solid strike action on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th November and on 8th October. See notes to editors for previous GMB press release on the dispute.

GMB successfully resisted attempts by ISS to get an injunction in the High Court on Thursday 20th November to stop these members at Queen Elizabeth Hospital holding further days of strike action.

GMB members want the same pay rates and weekend enhancements and unsocial hours rates as the staff directly employed by the NHS Trust.

ISS workers are paid between £7.10 and £7.32 per hour. The lowest rate for directly employed staff is £7.33 per hour which moves in yearly increments to £7.51 and £7.69 under the current NHS pay progression system.

ISS staff who work unsocial hours get between 90p – £2:05per hour. As direct staff they would be entitled to time and a half, ISS staff work on Saturday get time and a quarter. As direct staff this would be time and a half. When they work Sunday or a bank holiday they get time and a half. As direct staff this would be double time. ISS also pay less than sick pay for weekend.

There are a number of health and safety issues to resolve too.

Nadine Houghton, GMB Regional Officer, said “GMB members working for ISS at the hospital remain firm in their resolve to fight for the correct rates of pay for working in the NHS. This has been demonstrated through the 3 hugely successful days of strike action that GMB members have already staged.

We have talks with management on Thursday but our members have made it clear that if their demands aren’t met then they will be taking another two days of strike action over Christmas”

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