Lewisham Hospital workers continue fight after ISS Living Wage announcement
"GMB is clear that the exploitation of hospital workers will only cease when NHS workers are transferred back in house on full NHS pay terms and conditions", says GMB Southern
- After intense pressure from GMB Union members, Greenwich and Lewisham NHS and new provider ISS have announced that the London Living Wage, now standing at £10.75 per hour, will be implemented in Lewisham Hospital with some conditions.
The London Living Wage will not be granted until the workers complete 3 months training. This means workers will not receive the pay until May 2020 at the earliest.
GMB will be holding a march and rally on Wednesday 27 November to call for the immediate introduction of the London Living Wage for workers, and for the outsourced services provided by ISS be brought back in house to the NHS. The march will start at Lewisham Hospital and end with a rally outside Lewisham Shopping Centre.
Details of the march and rally are as follows:
Wednesday 27 November
2:00 PM
from
Lewisham Hospital
Lewisham High St.
London
SE13 6LH
to
Lewisham Shopping Centre
Molesworth St.
London
SE13 7HB
Speakers will include GMB Southern Regional Secretary, Paul Maloney, Head of Public Services for GMB Union, Rehana Azam and TUC Regional Secretary, Sam Gurney.
Helen O’Connor, GMB Regional Organiser said: "The fact that the London Living Wage will eventually be implemented in Lewisham Hospital represents a partial victory for GMB members who protested in large numbers outside the hospital a month ago.
"However, GMB thinks it is an absolute disgrace that workers on poverty pay are being forced to wait a further seven months to get wages that they can live on. The promise of jam tomorrow does nothing to put bread on our members table today.
"We welcome training for our members but we have not seen the detail and GMB Union is clear that we will oppose any use of testing or assessment as a cynical tactic to either deny these workers a living wage or even sack experienced workers to reduce costs.
"GMB members are now very concerned for their future following news that the shares have plunged by 18% and they have no confidence that the proposal to pay them the London Living Wage will be delivered.
"GMB is clear that the exploitation of hospital workers will only cease when NHS workers are transferred back in house on full NHS pay terms and conditions."
Contact: Helen O’Connor 07506 711574 or GMB Southern Press Office 07970 114762
