Fracas at GMB protest against poverty pay at Watford General Hospital AGM

NHS

Fracas at GMB protest against poverty pay at Watford General Hospital AGM

GMB union supporters attending the AGM of Watford General Hospital on Thursday 21 September to protest over what the union say is poverty pay were met with aggressive behaviour from multinational contractors Medirest local mangers.

The protest organised by GMB and supported by local trade unionists from the Watford Trades Council was interrupted by Medirest managers whilst they were distributing leaflets shaming the multinational over the treatment of their workers at Watford General Hospital.

Following a largely pleasant and convivial reception by the senior hospital trust staff the protesters sheltered from the rain in the lobby near the AGM meeting room. A Medirest manager began to throw the GMB flags and placards out into the rain and then forcibly attempted to stop a video recording being made causing a slight injury to the photographers finger and causing anxiety and anger among the protesters.  Community Police were called to quell the disturbance and the details of the protesters who were attacked were taken.

The protesters who say they were assaulted will be contacting the police to press for assault charges.

Michael Dooley, GMB local representative who organised the protest said

“There were around 8 people, mainly retired trade unionists, who were happily handing out leaflets to the delegates attending Watford Hospital AGM for around an hour. Shortly before the AGM started a Medirest manager appeared with another manager and the placards and flags were unceremoniously grabbed and dumped out in the rain.

“When a recording of this aggressive outburst was attempted the same manager forcible obstructed and grabbed the camera and a loud fracas broke out before the community police arrived to regain order. I have never witnessed anything like this before and if Medirest can behave like this with trade union officers what can they be like with employees?

“We are sorry that the AGM was disrupted in this way but everything was fine until the Medirest outburst. Maybe they objected to us saying that Medirest were paying minimum wage to porters who carry dead bodies and cleaners who daily clean vomit, urine, blood and faeces."

ENDS

Contact: Michael Dooley email: Michael.dooley@hotmail.co.uk, telephone:  07773 061798

Notes to editors

1) GMB Press release 19 September 2017

GMB PROTEST AGAINST POVERTY PAY AT WATFORD GENERAL HOSPITAL AGM THURSDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

We hope the AGM will find time to consider our concerns and put things right says GMB London

GMB, the union for hospital workers, will stage a protest at Watford General Hospital during the trusts Annual General Meeting at 5.00 pm on Thursday 21 September 2017.  The protest will take place outside the cafeteria at Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 OHB where the AGM will be held.

GMB members working for multinational facilities provider Medirest will join local Watford people to protest against the Medirest treatment of their porters and cleaners.

Medirest staff are paid minimum wage and in recent months relations between the workforce and Medirest have reached melting point. One porter was suspended for 7 weeks when he rolled up his trousers during the baking summer heat. Two other porters were suspended when they complained of health and safety issues, coming in the wake of high profile demonstrations outside of the hospital by groups of Medirest workers complaining about minimum wage pay.

So far the hospital Trust who engage Medirest have not been involved with the troubles, however, GMB who represents the workers want to bring the matter to the attention of the AGM and ask the hospital to ensure that Medirest pay the rates for the job set out in the National Health Services pay rates.

Michael Dooley, GMB local representative said

“Porters are wheeling dead bodies for minimum wage, cleaners are told to clean vomit, urine and blood for minimum wage in an NHS hospital while down the road Lidl pay cleaners £9.75. It makes you wonder who really cares for the workers in these establishments.

“Medirest and the Trust know that GMB members would not want to put patients at risk by going on strike, so we need to find other ways to raise our grievances and this is why we hope the AGM will find time to consider our concerns and put things right.”