Hospital workers stage walk out over pay dispute

A total of 59 workers have walked out at Great Western Hospital in Swindon

Security guards and porters at a county's major hospital have begun a 48 hour strike in a dispute over pay.

Serco, which employs the staff at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire, has been accused of refusing to honour a pay rise offered to other NHS staff, sparking the strike action.

The staff - which also includes caterers and housekeepers - walked out at 07:00 BST and will end the strike at 07:00 BST on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Serco said they are "disappointed" with the strike, but hope to find a "mutually acceptable outcome."

A spokesperson for Great Western Hospital said 59 Serco staff will be involved in the walkout and they are working closely with the company to "minimise impact" on services.

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

Unison South West regional manager Jayne Jackson said the situation is "simply unjust"

But trade union Unison said Serco has refused to pass on the payments - worth at least £1,655 - to its employees at Great Western Hospital.

It added that this has "left hard-working hospital staff struggling to make ends meet".

Unison South West regional manager Jayne Jackson said: “All NHS workers deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do.

“Serco’s refusal to honour the NHS bonus has left hospital staff with no alternative but to vote for strike action.

"It’s simply unjust that hard working and low-paid NHS workers should have to take industrial action to get the money they’re entitled to and deserve."

The union added more industrial action may follow if the dispute is not resolved.

Serco said: "Serco has a great relationship with our colleagues and Unison at the hospital.

"We are as disappointed as they are that our NHS funding application for the non-consolidated agenda for change bonus has not been successful."