GMB union dispute over pay

Workers at Ealing Hospital may go on strike for a second time in a pay dispute.

The cleaners and catering staff employed by Compass Medirest are paid at the minimum wage rate of £6.31 per hour - which their union GMB say is 44% below the lowest comparable NHS rate in London of £9.09 per hour.

GMB members are seeking an increase in pay as a step towards a London living wage of £8.80 per hour.

They also want an additional two days of annual leave and sick pay - which they no longer get.

If they vote in favour this will be be the second strike this year.   It follows four days of strike action in February when over 98% of the 140 workers voted in an official ballot to take strike action.

Stella George-Duesbury, Regional Organiser, said:

''There has been no progress in talks over this dispute in spite of members taking four days of strike action. GMB has now notified Medirest of further planned strike action of 7 days continuous from Friday 14th March to on Friday 21st March 2014.

''Should the company response be a long way from what members are seeking the negotiations will not continue. Should the company put forward a response that is reasonable this will be put to members in the form of a ballot.

Failing agreement, the strike will continue as planned from Friday 14th March 2014.”

11th March 2014