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Strike looms at troubled hospital

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Watford General Hospital workers prepare to strike as 98% favour strike action over Zero Hour Contracts and poor pay.

We will support our members on strike for however long it takes until Zero Hours Contracts are withdrawn and the workers’ wages are improved says GMB London.

GMB members working at Watford General Hospital have voted 98% in favour of taking industrial action over Zero Hour Contracts and poor pay.

Domestics and hospital porters working at Watford General for cleaning giant Medirest recently voted by a 98% majority in favour of going on strike following their companies refusal to stop the use of Zero Hour contracts or increase their wages of £7.30 an hour.

Porters who move dead bodies and care for the sick and infirm currently earn only ten pence above the minimum wage of £7.20. The union say domestic workers are on Zero Hours Contracts were workers hours are dictated each hour by their manager. Zero Hours Contracts are seen as a throwback to the 1930 casualization system where workers are hired by the hour with no security, often undermining the employment rights workers. Medirest claim that there are only five workers on ZHC, although GMB say if that was the case it would not be a hardship for Medirest to stop their use.

Most of the 300 Medirest low paid staff are local Watford people who struggle to bring up families and keep up with ever increasing utility and accommodation bills. 

Recent months have seen demonstrations at the hospital and high profile protests aimed at ending the regime of scandalous low pay at the hospital.

Michael Dooley, GMB local representative said:

“We will be meeting with the senior management of Medirest for one last effort to avoid any disruption to the patients using the hospital. Medirest have told us that West Hertfordshire Trust refused to pay Medirest any more than £7.30 an hour for staff so Medirest will not pay any increase and are refusing to pay more than the minimum wage next month. It appears that neither the Trust nor Medirest care if the hospital workers go on strike. Given the potential disruption to patients I find their attitude utterly contemptuous.

“GMB will meet with Medirest on Thursday 30th March before the union consider strike action starting in April. 

“From the consultation ballot of our members we have an overwhelming mandate returned with 98% saying that they are willing to take strike action. GMB will support our members on strike for however long it takes until Zero Hours Contracts are withdrawn and the workers’ wages are improved.”  

ENDS

Contacts: Michael Dooley 07773 061798; Medirest, Lynsey Taylor King on 01895 554999; West Hertfordshire Health Trust, Katie Fisher, on 01923 436336 Watford Hospital Media office on 01923 436280/1

Notes to editors

1) GMB Press release 16 March 2017

Watford General Hospital workers consider strike action over Zero Hours Contracts and poor pay.

We have done everything possible to bring to the attention of the hospital trust how serious the situation is says GMB London

Recent protests at the troubled Watford General Hospital look to spill over into full blown industrial action in the coming weeks. The West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust who employ facilities giant Medirest have not commented on the recent events following a meeting with Medirest and the workers union, GMB, held to avoid strike action by the cleaners and porters at Watford General.

The meeting held with Medirest senior directors on the 9th March 2017 at Watford General failed to reach agreement on stopping Zero Hours Contracts or to pay any increase in wages. Staff are currently paid ten pence above the minimum wage £7.20 an hour by Medirest to handle dead bodies, clean blood and faeces and undertake the general catering and support to patients in the hospital. 

Recent months have seen demonstrations at the hospital and high profile protests aimed at ending the regime of low pay at the hospital.

Michael Dooley, GMB local representative said:

“Medirest said point blank that they are keeping Zero Hours Contract but they will now monitor their use to stop abuse. Regarding the pittance pay Medirest said they will not pay any more than ten pence above the minimum wage of £7.20 and when the minimum wage is raised in April to £7.50 that is all the workers will receive. GMB union have conducted a consultation ballot with their Medirest members and depending on the outcome we may make plans for a full strike ballot in the coming weeks.

“GMB have done everything possible to bring to the attention of the hospital trust how serious the situation is.  In April the minimum wage will be used as a maximum by Medirest who say that they only pass on the wage payments to the workers which they receive from the Hospital Trust.

“There are 250 staff at Watford General involved in the outcome of a dispute, the union will be meeting Medirest on the 30th of March to further discuss sick pay and night shift and week end working currently at £7.30.

“Medirest profits continue to rise while local people working as porters are asked to deal with deceased patients while on Zero Hours Contracts and minimum wage. No amount of reason has convinced Medirest to increase the wages and stop ZHC, so we maybe be forced to take out members out on strike for as long as it takes. The matter will not just go away and neither will GMB” 

2) GMB Press release 16 January 2017

Victory for GMB members suspended in hospital safety row

Hospital workers reinstated after being suspended for refusing to use equipment dangerous to themselves and patients due to union campaign says GMB London

Following a campaign by GMB at Watford General hospital two hospital porters have been reinstated after they were suspended before Christmas for refusing to work in an unsafe manner with unsafe equipment.

Both workers were told to report to work today, 16th of January 2017, following a five week suspension and all charges against them have been dropped by their employer Medirest.

The safety problems erupted following workers complaints over food trolleys and how they were loaded.

A hospital worker said, "Pushing loaded trolleys around a busy hospital when you cannot see over the loads is an accident waiting to happen, also the trolleys sharp edges resulted in ankle injury. We told our managers but eventually the GMB rep refused to work with the trolleys and was suspended, then another lad, who also refused, was suspended"

Mick Dooley, GMB London organiser, said,

"Both workers were potentially facing dismissal from their jobs, their unwarranted suspension came before Christmas so the festive season was a little less festive in their homes this year. Their crime was to ask for a proper instruction before they used the equipment, and for that they are kept under a cloud for five weeks fearing the worst. However, their union brothers and sisters did not turn their backs on them and many were prepared to go on strike to ensure that a just outcome prevailed.

Hospital workers were angered by what they saw as an attempt to intimidate them and stop them raising safety issues. However the members went on the offensive raising publicity, meetings and petitions and demanded the immediate reinstatement of their colleagues. Reinstatement followed a meeting with senior GMB officials and the company.

The Health and Safety Executive also visited Watford General and in no uncertain terms advised Medirest to ensure safe working practices.

Watford General has seen recent growing unrest among hundreds of workers who are paid ten pence above the minimum wage and some paid only the minimum wage. Workers will meet with GMB to discuss their position and following this latest attack by management."

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