Health Care

Ancillary & maintenance

Ancillary and maintenance workers provide the support services enabling the delivery of our National Health Service.

UNISON has over 70,000 members working in ancillary and maintenance jobs within the UK. The largest group within this sector consists of cleaning staff, who are predominantly female and earn the lowest pay in the health service.

UNISON has been instrumental in bringing the campaign for a decent and fair living wage for ancillary and maintenance staff to a national audience.

UNISON has championed the cause of low paid ancillary and maintenance workers since its inception in 1993. The eradication of low pay remains the key campaigning issue within this sector.

This sector covers a wide range of support roles, including:

  • Cleaners
  • Porters
  • Caterers
  • Sterile service assistants
  • Laundry workers
  • Maintenance staff

Many of our members within this sector have been transferred out of the NHS to work for the increasing number of private contractors who have taken over the provision of cleaning, catering and maintenance services within our hospitals and health centres.

UNISON takes a twin track approach to private contractors - voicing strong opposition to contracting out these vital services, whilst trying to ensure that members who work for contractors receive fair treatment and trade union representation.

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CONTACT DETAILS
• Dave Godson - National Officer
• Robert Baughan - Assistant National Officer:
UNISON Healthcare
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: health@unison.co.uk
National news

UNISON welcomes assurances over NHS reform

(09/05/08) Government pledges staff and patients will be the driving force for change

Lobby urges reinstatement of sacked nurse

(07/05/08) Union members seek MPs' support for sacked colleague

Everyday heroes

(06/05/08) Say ‘thank you’ to the special people who care for the UK’s sick children

Put patients before profit

(25/04/08) UNISON calls for halt to dangerous drive to end on-site hospital instrument sterilisation
News list >

Recent documents

Proposed health pay agreement explained

Leaflet explaining details of the proposed health pay agreement - including proposed banding, pay scales and Q&A.
Link to a PDF document on this siteProposed health pay agreement explained

NHS pay - proposed multi-year agreement: case studies

The proposed pay deal will affect the earnings of particular occupational groups. These case studies will be of interest to branches and affected individuals.
Link to a document on this siteNHS pay - case studies [ZIP]

NHS survey

Tell us what is most important to you about the NHS and make sure your voice is heard in the debate over its future. The survey only takes three minutes to complete - and you could win an iPod!
Link to a PDF document on this siteNHS survey

PTB Sector Newsletter

2008 spring newsletter of the UNISON Healthcare Service Group PTB Sector
Link to a PDF document on this siteAcrobat PDF (270523 bytes)
All documents >