Health Service cleaning staff working at Poole NHS Trust held a protesting outside the main hospital entrance on Wednesday 7th December in a continuing low pay campaign.
Since the service was privatised by Poole NHS Trust, cleaning staff pay has declined annually from the lowest NHS pay grade to the national minimum wage of £7.20, even though hospital cleaners employed directly at other acute Trusts in Dorset still continue to receive a higher basic rate.
Unite Regional Officer Steve Attwill said: “Cleaners at other acute hospitals in the area receive a higher rate for the same job and despite our attempts to raise this very unfair situation with ISS Mediclean the contractor and the Trust, it has fallen on deaf ears”.
“Hospital management and the public wouldn’t expect cleaning standards at hospitals across Dorset to differ so it begs the question as to why are they paying less at Poole for the same job!
“The Trust receives the resources for staff pay from government and this should be passed on in full to all staff working at the hospital, like it is elsewhere.“
The union is pressing for the full Living Wage of £8.45 per hour, some 95 pence per hour higher than the government minimum wage.
“With the prospect of much higher inflation from now on, low paid workers everywhere including our members are going to feel the squeeze.”
“Cleaners at the Trusts have to maintain exacting standards as you would expect in a hospital. Being paid a Living Wage is not too much to expect for this level of commitment and attention to your work.”
The union have started a petition for public support which has already gained hundreds of signatures in support of a Living Wage for cleaning staff at Poole.
Dave Evans
