East Kent Hospitals staff employed by contractor 2gether Support Solutions and who are members of the Unite union, are on strike at sites including QEQM in Margate today [December 15] in a dispute over a covid payment.
NHS staff were awarded a sum of at least £1,655 after a government agreement in May to recognise the pressures on staff who worked through the covid pandemic.
But 2gether staff, comprising of roles in housekeeping, catering, portering and maintenance at hospitals, did not receive any payment. 2gether Support Solutions is a subsidiary firm owned by East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust (EKHUFT).
It is said the non NHS staff did not receive payment because they are outsourced. However, after the NHS deal was agreed outsourced staff and employers launched legal action and it was agreed those employers could also apply for funding to cover the payments.
The government agreed to provide the additional funding for organisations with contracts to deliver NHS services, who employ their staff on dynamically linked Agenda for Change contracts. While these staff are contractually eligible for the payments, the independent organisations are responsible for making them.
One member who is striking today said: “We are fighting for the covid money that NHS staff [received] because they worked in the covid 19 pandemic. We are cleaners who were always going to infections rooms and we risked taking the virus home to our family and we deserve [the payment] too.”
2gether workers will also take strike action tomorrow [December 16] and on Monday December 18].
