Health workers at Royal Blackburn Hospital have begun a 72-hour strike in a dispute over 'lack of sick pay and unsocial hours payments', says UNISON

Health staff employed by private contractor OCS today (June 29) begin a 72-hour strike at a number of locations operated by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Trust.

50 workers including porters, caterers and cleaners from Royal Blackburn Hospital's Daisyfield Mill Clinic and the Mount Clinic in Accrington, the Harbour and Wesham Rehabilitation Units in Blackpool, Preston’s Guild Park Hospital, Ormskirk and District General Hospital and Balladen House in Rossendale are striking.

The OCS employees at hospitals, mental health units and clinics in Blackburn, Blackpool, Ormskirk and Preston are striking until Friday (July 1) as they fight for the same sick pay and annual holiday as the NHS staff they work alongside.

Earlier this year, UNISON successfully negotiated an increase to the worker’s hourly pay rates, bringing them into line with staff employed directly by the NHS. This meant a 69p increase to £10.19 an hour for the workers.

But OCS workers are still not getting extra money for the night, weekend or bank holiday shifts their NHS counterparts receive, and they only get statutory sick pay (less than £100 a week) meaning many can’t afford to be off work, claims UNISON.

UNISON North West regional organiser, Dale Ollier, said: “Strikes are always a last resort, but workers have no other ways to make themselves heard.

"They deserve to be treated and paid the same as those working for the NHS

“OCS workers do the same jobs as many NHS colleagues but they miss out on sick pay when they’re ill, are paid less when they work unsocial hours or weekends and are given fewer days off.

“Other firms are becoming far more attractive than remaining in the healthcare sector, so many will leave unless the situation improves.

“The employer needs to treat staff fairly to end this dispute.”