Hospital joiners, electricians, plumbers and painter and decorators angry at creation of two-tier workforce

South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust estates staff are being balloted for strike action over unequal pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

The workers, including joiners, electricians, plumbers and painter and decorators, are on different pay grades – ranging from band three to band five.

Some workers are on band three despite doing exactly the same job as colleagues on band five and having worked in those roles for up to 25 years.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The band differences within the trust’s estates department are totally unacceptable – people doing the same job need to be paid the same wage. These workers have their union’s full support.”

The workers are being balloted until 6 July. Industrial action will result in disruption to estates and maintenance services at Bethlam Royal, Lambeth, Lewisham and Maudsley hospitals.

Unite regional officer Maz Ebrahim said: “These workers do not want to strike but are being forced to ballot for industrial action because of the trust’s creation of a two-tier workforce. Staff feel undervalued and unappreciated. Strikes can still be avoided but that will require the trust giving these workers equal pay.”

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.