Hospital workers stage second walk out in pay dispute

Unison members working for Serco at Great Western Hospital are striking

Hospital workers are staging their second 48-hour strike over a pay dispute.

Health chiefs said there will only be "minimal" disruption to patients as workers from Serco, which employs caterers, housekeepers, security guards and porters at the Great Western Hospital (GWH), Swindon, are striking.

Staff walked out at 07:00 GMT on Monday and will end the strike at 07:00 on Wednesday.

Serco said it was "as disappointed as they are [workers]" that an application to the NHS to fund bonuses was not successful.

A wage deal was agreed from June 2023 for staff on NHS contracts which included a one-off payment for the previous financial year.

But trade union Unison said Serco has not passed on the payments - worth at least £1,655 - to its employees at the Swindon hospital.

Union leaders have warned that there could be "further disruption" in the future

The union South West regional organiser Tom Kennedy-Hughes said: “Serco’s refusal to honour the NHS pay deal is deeply unjust and has left hard-working hospital staff struggling to make ends meet.

“It’s not too late for Serco to avoid further disruption," he added.

The union explained that similar disputes at other healthcare sites, including in Wiltshire, have already been resolved.

'Small number striking'

Serco leaders told the BBC they are "disappointed" at the strike action.

"Serco has a great relationship with our colleagues and both trades unions at the hospital. We are as disappointed as they are that our application to the NHS to fund the bonus has not been successful," a spokesperson added.

Health chiefs at the Swindon hospital said they have a "small number of staff" working for Serco and that they are working with the company to "ensure the impact of the strike action on service and care delivery remains minimal".