Staff working for contractor Serco at Forth Valley Royal Hospital have backed strike action in a dispute over changes to how they are paid, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
Ninety-nine per cent (99%) of union members at Serco backed walking out over plans to shift pay days from weekly to monthly, a move many say will leave them struggling to make ends meet.
Around 600 Serco support staff, which include cleaners, caterers, security staff and porters, will be affected.
According to a recent survey, two-thirds of workers say the switch threatens to leave them in debt, adds the union.
Serco previously threatened staff with controversial “fire and rehire” tactics to impose the changes to the frequency of their pay. The company has since backed down and has offered loans to employees, but remains intent on phasing in monthly payments, says UNISON.
The union is demanding a guarantee that weekly pay remains an option for all staff.
UNISON Scotland regional organiser Greig Kelbie said: “Staff at Serco are tired of being pushed around. Their position is clear. This dispute continues until weekly pay remains an option for all those who want it.”
UNISON branch secretary at Forth Valley Health Karren Morrison said: “Low-paid health workers should not be forced into financial hardship just to suit Serco.
“A move to monthly pay risks pushing many into debt. Without a cast-iron commitment that weekly pay will continue, workers believe their finances remain under threat.”
Notes to editors:
– More than four-fifths (82%) of UNISON members working for Serco at Forth Valley Royal Hospital voted in the union’s ballot. Ninety-nine per cent (99%) voted to support both strike action and industrial action short of strikes.
– In June, UNISON surveyed Serco staff about the proposed shift to monthly wages. Two thirds (67%) said moving to monthly pay would cause them financial difficulty. Just one in 20 (5%) believed an interest-free loan would help them manage the transition to monthly pay cheques.
– UNISON Scotland represents more than 150,000 members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, care, police services, water, and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.