Nowadays, it is common practice to outsource work that used to be done by salaried employees. Even though they are doing the same work as salaried employees, staff working in jobs that are outsourced are paid less and also receive lower sick leave allowance and less annual leave.
Chronically underpaid, cleaners, porters and caterers working for private facilities management company OCS Group UK and the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Trust have decided they have had enough.
Silenced
When OCS told its staff that they were not allowed to speak out about these issues, they looked at Love Actually for inspiration and decided to use cards to make their point instead. With the help of UNISON North West, the workers tweeted the following:
Cards
The statement was accompanied by a video with staff holding up cards, headed with the Unison logo, saying the following:
“We are cleaners, porters and caterers At hospitals in Lancashire We want to tell you about our strike But our employer has said we can’t speak to you So we will use these cards instead Our employer OCS doesn’t treat us the same as other staff doing the same job This means we don’t get sick pay and the same annual leave And we don’t get the same rate for nights or weekends We are struggling to pay the bills We are on strike to win the treatment we deserve We are not asking for much. Just the same as our colleagues (…) Together we RISE”
This rally is the latest in a series of strikes and picket rallies held over the past two weeks. North West Bylines will keep a close eye on the response from OCS and any future developments, so watch this space.
North West Unison was approached for comment on this matter but sadly were not available.
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