|
LOW
PAID HOSPITAL WORKERS EMPLOYED BY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS IN PAY DEAL
PRIVATELY
employed hospital workers who could not afford to take time off to
receive hospital medical treatment have won the same rights as NHS
workers thanks to a deal struck by Public Sector trade union UNISON.
Cleaners, porters and other ancillary workers, contracted to work
for ISS Mediclean at Macclesfield Hospital will see improvements to
their pay and conditions thanks to their trade union – UNISON. They
will now receive sick pay, full enhancements for working weekends
and evenings, overtime at time and a half and improved holidays.
Some of these payments will be back dated to 1 April 2008.
This follows a campaign started 6 months ago by UNISON at
Macclesfield Hospital which sought to bring staff in line with other
NHS staff employed on the governments ‘Agenda for Change’ contracts.
UNISON has seen its membership increase from 6 to 120 members within
ISS Mediclean, as a result of the campaign for a fairer deal.
Nigel Flanagan UNISON North West Regional Officer said:- “This
is a good deal for ancillary staff and means that they will now be
paid as though they were working directly for the NHS. This type of
deal would not have been possible had it not been for the workforce,
who joined UNISON on mass. We have always maintained there is
strength in numbers and by employees being represented by a trade
union, agreements such as these are far more likely to happen.”
This is the latest in a string of agreements won by UNSION for
hospital ancillary workers all over Manchester – Wythenshawe,
Bolton, Tameside and the Children’s hospitals in Manchester. Talks
are now taking place to complete the same agreement in Pennine Acute
which covers Oldham, North Manchester, Fairfield and Rochdale
Hospitals.
In total UNISON has now negotiated agreements to improve pay and
conditions for over 2,000 ancillary workers in Greater Manchester
hospitals, working for a number of private sector organisations. In
some cases staff were being paid as little as £5.88 an hour, did not
receive sick pay and only earned flat rates for any overtime. |
GEORGE DAVIES SELECTS STYLISH SOUTHPORT TO SHOWCASE NEW COLLECTIONS
CROSBY born
fashion guru George Davies will visit Southport’s Marks & Spencer
store on Wednesday, 10 September 2008, to exclusively launch his 2 new
Per Una collections.
Staff at the store will be hitting the catwalk to showcase the
latest collections during an exclusive fashion show, highlighting
the must-have fashion and beauty looks for the coming season.
George Davies, who decided to unveil his new ranges in Southport
following a letter he received from the store’s Per Una team, said:-
“Following a refurbishment last year, the store has received a
fantastic new makeover and has one of the best Per Una offerings in
the country.
I was pleased to hear from the team and decided
their store would provide the perfect location to launch my two new
autumn collections, which includes the first ever Per Una Speziale
tailoring range.”
Originally from Crosby and a former student at Bootle Grammar
School, George enjoys regular visits to the Merseyside area and is
an Official O8 Ambassador for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year.
This autumn, George is introducing an Italian inspired tailoring
range from Per Una featuring sleek and wearable wardrobe essentials
available in Speziale Tailoring departments in selected stores
across the country. Key looks from the Autumn fashion range
include statement dresses and coats in stunning hot pinks, deep
purples and scarlet reds. Top trends to watch out for will be tartan
prints and romantic style layered skirts along with chunky knitwear
evoking gothic styles.
George added:- “The new collections offer the best in design,
quality and value for money in wearable and feminine styles.
I’ve
created pieces that can be coordinated and combined so that you can
refresh your look to suit any occasion.”
The Per Una Autumn Winter collection is available from more than 250
Marks & Spencer stores nationwide.
Per Una is also available online at
www.marksandspencer.com. |
