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11/05/2009
Private Hospital Workers Win Equal Pay Conditions
Workers at Durham hospital have won the right to be paid on NHS terms and conditions by their private-sector employer - after threatening strike action.
UNISON had been negotiating with Balfour Beatty on behalf of more than 60 workers - including porters, domestic, catering, switchboard and security staff - to get the employer to honour a 2006 national agreement to bring them into line with staff directly employed by the NHS.
Faced with the employer's obstinacy, the UNISON members balloted for strike action - and it was only then that Balfour Beatty agreed to negotiate.
The company agreed a deal to honour the national agreement and improve its staff's pay and conditions last week, the day before the strike was due to start.
"I am delighted that we have managed to get justice for these hard-working, low-paid staff without having to resort to disruptive strike action," said UNISON regional organiser Ian Daley.
"The workers were not asking for anything extra, just what they are entitled to. The new agreement means that we no longer have the bizarre situation of staff doing the same jobs, in the same workplace, being paid different rates of pay."
Mr Daley said it is sad that union members have to threaten strike action, "especially in a hospital setting".
He added: "It is never something that we do lightly. However, this was what was needed to get the employer to see sense and pay the rate for the job."
(PR/JM)
UNISON had been negotiating with Balfour Beatty on behalf of more than 60 workers - including porters, domestic, catering, switchboard and security staff - to get the employer to honour a 2006 national agreement to bring them into line with staff directly employed by the NHS.
Faced with the employer's obstinacy, the UNISON members balloted for strike action - and it was only then that Balfour Beatty agreed to negotiate.
The company agreed a deal to honour the national agreement and improve its staff's pay and conditions last week, the day before the strike was due to start.
"I am delighted that we have managed to get justice for these hard-working, low-paid staff without having to resort to disruptive strike action," said UNISON regional organiser Ian Daley.
"The workers were not asking for anything extra, just what they are entitled to. The new agreement means that we no longer have the bizarre situation of staff doing the same jobs, in the same workplace, being paid different rates of pay."
Mr Daley said it is sad that union members have to threaten strike action, "especially in a hospital setting".
He added: "It is never something that we do lightly. However, this was what was needed to get the employer to see sense and pay the rate for the job."
(PR/JM)
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