OCS in UNISON - North West

We are outsourced key workers working within Lancs & South Cumbria, Wigan & Leigh, Liverpool Women’s and East Lancs we’re fighting for pay parity.

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Here we go again, consultative ballot papers arrived today and posted back straight away by most members. Why do we the lowest paid have to fight for everything, the absolute basics such as pay parity? Shameful. #OCSDispute #UNISON @TUCNorthWest @unisontheunion

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

Tomorrow is #OneTeamDay when we celebrate the whole NHS team and highlight the work and contributions of support staff in the NHS #OneTeamNHS 💙

[UNISON North West @NorthWestUNISON]

Tomorrow is International Workers Memorial Day when we remember those who who've lost their lives at work.

There are a series of events tomorrow and this weekend.

Click here for more info https://t.co/MekQOJiMDD

[UNISON North West @NorthWestUNISON]

Fiona Mercer is a UNISON North West care worker who has just changed the landscape for trade unionists across the country 👏

https://t.co/VDuks1wBJ5

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

🚨 UNISON WIN! 🎉

Fantastic win by Mitie staff at Dudley Group hospitals!

More than 300 hospital workers will now get the Covid payment they are due. ✊💜 @unisonwestmids

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

Women have always been central to trade unions and the fight for a more equal society.

Celebrating women's achievements on #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2024 💜 #InspireInclusion 🫶

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

On International Women’s Day we celebrate women's achievement and all global activism committed to forging equality #IWD2024 💜

We are a union of over a million women members in the UK, through our collective efforts we aim to support and #InspireInclusion 🫶

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

OCS colleagues in Burnley rock solid support for strike action if not paid the Covid Recovery Bonus. Worked right through, opened up the health centres, made sure it was spotless & clean for visitors having covid jabs. Time to pay up OCS & value your staff. @unisontheunion

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Our friends & colleagues over at Rossendale Health Centre strike ready if need be. Worked through Covid & were rewarded with naff all whilst NHS staff received the Covid bonus. One Team apart from when it comes to pay! #PayUpOCS #Strikeready @unisontheunion @NorthWestUNISON

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

🚨UNISON WIN!!

Amazing win by hospital workers employed by Sodexo.

All private firms should be on notice that their staff deserve the same pay and conditions as their NHS colleagues that they work alongside. #OneTeamNHS

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

@before_profit @strike_map Thank you for all your support over the years. We appreciate it.

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Today OCS colleagues at The Harbour in Blackpool vowed to strike if they did not receive the Covid Recovery Bonus their colleagues in the NHS received last year. We’re told we are One Team then when it comes to paying us we’re not included in the Team. #NHS #HeroToZero #PayUpOCS

[UNISON - UK's largest union @unisontheunion]

Mitie must pay healthcare workers what they are owed or strikes will continue, say UNISON and Unite

@Mitie chief executive Phil Bentley must pay healthcare workers in the West Midlands the lump sum they are owed.

The general secretaries of the UK’s two largest unions have written to Mr Bentley to say strikes planned for today from 5am and next Friday 8 March will go ahead unless hospital staff get a one-off £1,655 payment that other NHS staff have already received.

Cleaners, porters and catering employees are among around 370 workers set to strike again following action which began with Unite in December.

All are contracted by Mitie to work at three hospitals run by The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and are among the lowest-paid staff in the NHS.

The letter to Mr Bentley says that the £1,655 lump sum was part of the deal agreed by the government and health unions last year following strikes in the NHS. The one-off payment has already been awarded to “hundreds of thousands of NHS employees”.

The letter says many of the staff “worked, alongside their NHS colleagues, throughout the Covid pandemic”, and that Mitie is “treating them unfairly and forcing them into hardship” by withholding the money.

UNISON and Unite say the company claims the extra payment is unaffordable. The letter adds: “If that is the case, then we struggle to see how Mitie could pay the £5.9m remuneration package you (Mr Bentley) received last year, or your annual bonus.

“Mitie can easily afford to pay the lump sum. Its profits were generated from the hard work and dedication of low-paid employees. They (the staff) put their own health at risk and that of their families for no additional reward.”

Mitie is attempting to break the strikes by bussing in staff represented by the Prison Officers’ Association from other NHS sites, which the unions say is "despicable".

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea @cmcanea: “Health staff would rather be back at work than on the picket line. But Mitie has forced them into taking strike action.

“The company says it hasn’t got the money to pay this lump sum. Yet it can find the cash to spend on bringing in strike-breaking workers from sites miles away.

“Mitie must do what’s right and pay up now or the strikes will continue.”

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham: “It is shameful that these vital workers who keep the NHS going are being kicked in the teeth by their employer. Mitie is a multi-million-pound company which announced huge profits last year. It can easily afford to pay them the money they are owed.

“Instead, Mitie has dragged its feet every step of the way and forced some of the lowest-paid workers in the NHS onto the picket line in their fight for fair pay. They will have Unite’s full backing.”

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Colleagues over at Darwen Health Centre are ready to take strike action if necessary. Worked throughout Covid, did overtime, extra duties & went above & beyond. Yet left out when it came to the covid recovery bonus NHS staff received doing the same job. Not even a Thankyou!!

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Sending solidarity to the fierce Wirral strikers, it gives us all the motivation and determination to fight for fair pay.

[Liverpool Echo @LivEchonews]

Wirral hospital staff vote to strike in pay row https://t.co/XKT7eyOrXJ

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Liverpool Women’s is a UNISON stronghold, never backing down until we get what we worked for through covid and fair pay for all OCS staff. #unionstrong #unison #fairpay @unisontheunion @NorthWestUNISON

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

@unisontheunion @DudleyGroupNHS @unisonwestmids Solidarity from OCS staff in the North West.

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

@barnet_unison @NorthWestUNISON Thank you 🙏

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Colleagues over in East Lancs 100% solid, consultative ballots returned what a cracking start 👏👏 #povertypay #FairPay #Domestics @NorthWestUNISON

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

@badjonogrizy @TUCNorthWest @unisontheunion Thank you 🙏

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

Here we go again, consultative ballot papers arrived today and posted back straight away by most members. Why do we the lowest paid have to fight for everything, the absolute basics such as pay parity? Shameful. #OCSDispute #UNISON @TUCNorthWest @unisontheunion

[OCS in UNISON - North West @OCSDispute]

@DowneyCarla @BobKelly16 @TUCNorthWest @unisontheunion Thanks Carla 🙏