HSL and Doctors' Laboratory staff to get improvements in grading systems, sick pay and training

 

Staff at a large biomedical sciences company with laboratories across the country are celebrating a significant pay win after a dispute with their employer.

 

Nearly a thousand staff took part in industrial action in September due to anger over their pay and grading system. With support from Unite, workers have now win significant improvements.

 

Staff will receive an average pay rise of 15.4 per cent over two years and the introduction of a banding system guaranteeing pay progression based on tenure and bringing all employees in line with NHS agenda for change contracts.

 

They will also get a significant improvement in their sick pay, the introduction of special leave, two additional days of annual leave, a new and fair selection process for training to be overseen by Unite reps, and the confirmation that staff moving from NHS contracts to work for HSL will keep their pensions within the legal entity and receive £2500 compensation.

 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "HSL and its sister companies were doing our members a disservice with their pay and conditions.

 

“Staff should be congratulated on this terrific victory and securing a pay award they fully deserve.

 

“Let this stand as a warning to any private sector NHS provider who thinks they can get away with short-changing our members. Unite wins for workers  and is coming for you."

 

One of the biggest concerns for staff at HSL was a workload that was endangering both staff and patient safety. Following the dispute, HSL has agreed to consult Unite on all new and existing contracts worth over £1m to determine workload and safe staffing levels.

 

Unite regional officer Maz Ebrahim added: "I'm delighted for our members at HSL who stood firm in their commitment to winning better pay and better terms. They had the full backing of the union in their dispute and have now won an above-inflation pay award alongside new conditions that are a just reward for doing a skilled and valuable role."

 

Pathology workers at HSL provide more than 70 per cent of all diagnostics in the health service and operations across seven NHS hospitals in North London - Royal Free, North Middlesex, UCLH, Whittington, Ealing, Northwick Park and Barnet Hospital.