Orkney and Shetland Labour
2 May 2019
The ISS Hairmyres pay scandal should put an end to the outsourcing of services in our NHS, Labour said today.
Speaking ahead of a lobby of the Scottish Parliament be NHS workers, Health spokesperson Monica Lennon said staff at Hairmyres should be paid what they are due – and there should be a presumption against NHS services being outsourced in the future.
A new payroll system is set to be rolled-out at East Kilbride’s Hairmyres hospital in May, but the plans by the contractor ISS are set to include delaying paying workers’ their wages for one week on the first payment.
Staff are currently paid in arrears on a fortnightly basis and the delay will mean they will receive two week’s pay covering a three-week period, with a weeks’ worth of wages retained by the employer.
Workers who will struggle to make ends meet without their wages are currently being offered ‘bridging loans’ to help make-up the shortfall, but the money will have to be paid back to the employer.
Scottish Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, Monica Lennon MSP, said:
“It is scandalous that hospital workers are having to hold protests to get the wages they are owed.
“No one working day and night in our hospitals should have to fight to get their wages. “Staff should be paid the wages that they are due – not be forced into debt or have to explain their financial circumstances to their bosses.
“This scandal should put an end to outsourcing NHS services to private firms.
"It’s not good for the health service to be reliant on private companies that put profits before people."