Macclesfield hospital pay protest

Low paid staff, contracted by outsourcing firm ISS, at Macclesfield District General Hospital are staging a second protest on Friday (April 26) against ISS’ plans to withhold up to a week of their pay after the company decided to upgrade its payroll system.

ISS employs hospital cleaners, porters and domestic staff at Macclesfield hospital, many of whom are paid hourly and earn the minimum wage.

The protest will take place on Friday from 12pm to 2.30pm outside the rear entrance to Macclesfield District General Hospital (SK10 3BL).

The staff, mainly women, are angry that they will have to wait nearly three weeks after their last pay date to receive only two weeks wages. A week’s pay will be withheld and paid to workers when they eventually leave the company – so in reality they are losing a week’s pay.

Unite regional officer Derek Jones said, “This group of low paid workers already staged a successful protest last week – and they will be demonstrating again on Friday as they ratchet up their campaign for pay justice.

“We hope members of the public will join us on Friday at the rear entrance of Macclesfield hospital from 12.00pm to 2.30pm to support these low paid workers in their fight to win back their pay,” he added.

“Many are lone parents and live pay packet to pay packet. The pay changes will push our members further into financial difficulties, leaving them struggling to pay the bills, mortgage or rent and put food on the tables for their families.

“At the end of December 2018, parent company ISS Mediclean’s annual turnover was £413m and gross profit was £61m. Cash-rich ISS is behaving disgracefully.

“The amount of interest being earned by ISS on these held back wages must be phenomenal and shows the greed of the company when it’s already making significant profits on the backs of its mainly female workforce.”

Unite renewed its call on ISS bosses to reconsider its proposals and find a solution that does not leave its members financially worse off, or in a position where any bridging loan would require extortionate repayments.

Low-paid Unite members at Royal Liverpool Hospital, employed by ISS, are also embroiled in a similar dispute over the company’s payroll systems.