Outsourced cleaners, catering staff, porters and security officers at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital could take strike action later this month after voting for action over pay by 100% in an 83% turn-out.
There are more than 40 of the hospital workers, who are employed by the private company OCS and among the lowest-paid staff working in the NHS.
The company is not paying NHS pay rates, costing staff up to £2,150 this year alone.
“This is a real injustice that must be addressed,” said UNISON regional organiser Maria Moss after the vote.
“Nobody working in the hospital should be on poverty pay,” she added. “All the staff are part of the NHS team and they should all be paid the agreed NHS rate for the job.
“We raised this matter with OCS back in August and there has been no progress in getting it resolved. OCS staff are very upset about the way they are being treated and they would be wholly justified in taking strike action over this issue.