Press Room Archive
PRESS RELEASE
29/03/2004: 0900
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Strike suspended as pay talks resume
The strike by domestics and some portering staff at North Manchester General Hospital and Fairfield Hospital have been suspended pending further talks with ISS Mediclean, the Danish multinational company involved. The strike, which was due to begin on Monday 29th of March was the result of frustration after months of talks had failed to produce a settlement. The domestic staff, who currently earn just £4.61 per hour are demanding £5.00 per hour backdated to January 1st. So far, the management ploy has been to appear to increase their offer when in fact, they have tried to represent next year’s 3.225% pay award as forming part of the ‘increase’ and have also tried to set aside the January first implementation date in order to make any percentage offer appear higher than it actually is.
Attempts by ISS Mediclean to persuade Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust to put more money into the contract have fallen on deaf ears as Pennine itself is planning to make some of its own staff redundant as it squares up to a £20M hole in its own finances.
The domestic staff are solidly behind the strike at both North Manchester sites. Some of the porters at North Manchester, whose claim differs from that of their domestic colleagues are undecided as to whether they should settle or not.
After the resumption of talks, UNISON PAH plans to meet with members to discuss the offer and discuss the way ahead.
ENDIT
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PETE HINCHLIFFE ON 07867-656460