ISS Employees To Strike Over Two Tier Workforce

200 GMB members employed by ISS at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich will take a further five days of strike action in the long running dispute over the two tier workforce.

The continuous strike action will commence at 6am on Monday 9th March and will end at 6pm Friday 13th March.

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 five days of strike action on 25th and 26th December, 24th and 25th November and on 8th October. Talks on 18th December did result in movement by the company but as yet no settlement has been reached. 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 20th November to stop these members 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. GMB has learned ISS is getting enough money from the Trust to pay staff NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions but continues to refuse to end the two tier workforce.

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 also a number of health and safety issues to resolve.

(CD)