Domestic staff at The Harbour in Blackpool return to picket line for four more days of strike action

Cleaners, porters and caterers at The Harbour mental hospital in Blackpool have once again walked out in protest of unequal pay.
By Wes Holmes
Published 26th Jul 2022, 12:30 BST
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Staff members employed by private contractor OCS at eight NHS sites across Lancashire – The Harbour, Guild Lodge in Preston, Wesham rehabilitation unit, Royal Blackburn Hospital, the Daisyfield Mill Clinic and the Mount Clinic in Accrington, Ormskirk District General Hospital, and Balladen House in Rossendale – went on strike for three days last month after bosses refused to meet demands for the same sick pay and annual leave as NHS staff.

They returned to the picket line this morning, with further walk-outs planned tomorrow, on July 31, and on August 1.

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Trade union UNISON warned that further strikes could be expected throughout the summer unless OCS and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust agrees to pay staff NHS rates for nights, weekends and Bank Holidays, provide full sick pay, provide the same annual leave as the NHS, and back-date a wage increase to the date it was agreed.

The first strikers outside The Harbour early this morningThe first strikers outside The Harbour early this morning
The first strikers outside The Harbour early this morning

READ: Cleaners strike over 'insulting' sick pay at The Harbour

UNISON regional organiser Dale Ollier said: “These are NHS workers contracted out to a company that makes millions in profit each year. What they are asking for is both affordable and fair.

“No-one wants to see services disrupted, but OCS and Trust managers need to make sure workers doing the same job are treated the same. NHS Trusts should not be outsourcing services to avoid the pay and conditions that have been agreed nationally for all NHS staff.

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“These workers have sent two letters offering to meet with Trust board members to explain their plight, but so far no-one has taken them up on their offer.”

The first strikers outside The Harbour early this morningThe first strikers outside The Harbour early this morning
The first strikers outside The Harbour early this morning

In their most recent letter, the workers said: “We love the NHS and we are proud to say that we are part of it. We are also proud to have played our part on the front line during the Covid-19 pandemic, keeping services open and patients safe.

“But we don’t understand why we’re not treated the same as everybody else. It’s hard coming into work knowing we are not valued in the same way.”

Related topics:NHSThe HarbourBlackpoolUNISONLancashire