‘Indispensable’ non-medic staff deserve NHS pay award

UNISON has said that cleaners, porters, catering assistants, security ​guards and other health staff employed by private ​companies but working in the NHS​ must not miss out on ​any pay ​rise given to their colleagues.

The union is urging firms such as Serco, Sodexo and Mitie – as well as subsidiary companies ​owned by individual NHS trusts – to increase hourly pay rates to at least match new NHS rates (known as Agenda for Change) so they are not left behind.

Although there is disappointment over the three per cent pay rise offered to NHS staff, those working in the NHS and employed by private contractors are at risk of getting nothing.

UNISON has written to the largest private employers in the health service asking contractors ‘to ensure that pay rates of staff delivering services to the NHS are no lower than Agenda for Change​ across all the contracts they deliver within the NHS’.

UNISON wants to see all staff providing health services to be either directly employed by the NHS or on the same pay and contracts as those who are. All staff should also be paid at least real living wage rates (£9.50/£10.85 an hour). The union also wants government ministers to ensure that any pay rise is fully funded so it covers staff working for private contractors on NHS premises, and NHS trusts only awarding contracts to those private firms agreeing to match NHS pay rates, and other benefits, such as sick pay and pensions.

Christina McAnea, UNISON general secretary, said: “Thousands of cleaners, porters ​and caterers ​have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, alongside their NHS colleagues. NHS staff have the benefit of a national pay system but those not directly employed ​are missing out, ​often because of complex contracting arrangements, penny-pinching practices ​and the hard-nosed pursuit of profit.

​”Staff in the NHS work on one site as one team, from maintaining clean and safe wards to ensuring patients are fed and cared for. No one delivering NHS services should be paid less than th​eir directly employed ​colleagues. A pay rise should apply to all NHS staff. Health workers employed by contractors must not be left behind. The public will expect everyone in the NHS to get the pay rise they’ve all more than earned.”