Staff from 2gether Support Solutions, who provide services including catering, cleaning and portering in hospitals including QEQM at Margate, are taking industrial action from tomorrow (Tuesday 30 January) until Thursday 1 February.
The staff, employed by contractor 2gether Support Solutions and who are members of the Unite union, will strike in a dispute over a covid payment.
NHS staff were awarded a sum of at least £1,655 after a government agreement in last 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).
Additional funding
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 2gether staff member who was part of industrial action last month 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.”
‘Respect right to take action’
An East Kent Hospitals Trust statement says: “We fully respect our colleagues’ right to take action and know that the decision is not one that is taken without a great deal of thought, or lightly.
“We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum. Our focus is on providing high standards of care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals.
“All appointments are being carried out as normal. However, to help us safely manage the impact of the industrial action, we have had to change the way we work in certain areas during these days.
“This also means the food available for patients will be different on these days. Most patients will be offered a selection of sandwiches, a selection of ham and vegetarian salads, yoghurts, mousse, ice cream, fruit and cheese, as well as cakes and biscuits for snacks.
“Those with any dietary requirements or who require specialist meals, for example patients with swallowing problems, will see no change in the menu, while our younger patients on the children’s ward will also be offered finger foods.”
