An NHS trust has encouraged an outsourcing company that provides staff to its hospitals to resolve a dispute over pay.
Yesterday it was confirmed that more than 150 porters, cleaners, switchboard and catering staff at the Cumberland Infirmary are to begin strike action on Friday.
The Mitie-employed staff have voted to strike after claims of missing payments and staff working unsocial hours.
Mitie claims it already pays its employees time and a half or double time for overtime hours (i.e. anything beyond contracted hours).
But trade union UNISON claim that Cumberland Infirmary staff have not received the payments for more than ten years.
Trade unions UNISON and GMB held crunch talks with Mitie and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust this week in a last-ditch attempt to avoid strike action.
A spokeswoman for North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “We encourage Mitie to resolve this dispute and along with the PFI company, HMC, the Trust continues to engage with them for this to be achieved.
“Mitie’s plans to maintaining services for the patients and public is our key priority at this time and we are working closely with Mitie’s local team to ensure arrangements are in place to sustain safe services despite the action taking place.”
A statement from Mitie said: “As Unison is well aware, we are not in a position to provide a guarantee at this time. The Trust and HMC are continuing talks to resolve the situation and agree a long term solution for all parties.
“In the meantime, our focus is on ensuring that the hospital continues to receive the support it needs and patient safety is prioritised, particularly with the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19.”
