
A long-running trade dispute involving porters, cleaners, switchboard and catering staff at the Cumberland Infirmary is over after an agreement has been reached.
Staff employed by Mitie on behalf of the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust balloted for action after claims of missing payments.
Workers involved in the strike claimed they should receive unsocial work payments for hours worked such as nights and weekends.
Mitie, the firm that employs the porters, cleaners, switchboard and catering staff involved in the strike, say services are supplied through private company Health Management Carlisle (HMC) to the North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) NHS Foundation Trust and payments are made via HMC.
The infirmary workers took seven days of strike action in recent months and UNISON, one of the unions representing the staff, said further action was planned this month.
But last week constructive talks were held between trade unions UNISON and GMB, Mitie and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
The talks came to a positive conclusion and members of unions UNISON and GMB have now accepted an offer from Mitie, which marks the end of the industrial dispute.
The offer will see the Cumberland Infirmary workers paid the full NHS Agenda for Change levels of pay for all unsocial hours worked from November 2021.
In addition, the offer includes provisions to prevent any job losses as a result of unsocial hours pay being introduced. Finally, a commitment has been made that no worker will be treated any differently by their employer as a result of participating in the trade dispute.
UNISON regional organiser David Atkinson said: “We are delighted that this dispute has come to a positive conclusion and we now look forward to working together in partnership with Mitie and the Trust for the benefit of patients and staff.
“Hospital workers in Cumbria put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep us safe. The least they deserve is the full NHS rates of pay when they spend time away from their family overnight and at the weekend.
“Thanks to their own determination and togetherness, infirmary staff have now secured the unsocial hours payments they have rightfully earned.”
A joint statement from Mitie and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: “Mitie and the Trust have been working together and have agreed a way forward that will see Mitie colleagues at the Cumberland Infirmary receive unsocial hours payments in future.
“This agreement follows a series of constructive talks to create a long-term solution in the best interests of everyone; employees, the trust, and patients at the hospital.”
Although colleagues working within the PFI arrangements have always been paid the agreed rates and terms in line with their commercial and employment contract, prior to this announcement unsocial hours payments (UHP) have not been paid, as UHP was not part of the agreed entitlements.