Cleaners, porters, catering assistants and security guards employed at Manchester’s Nightingale North West are being paid less than those at neighbouring NHS hospitals, union bosses claim.
UNISON say workers are receiving less pay from night and weekend shifts than their colleagues in the same roles at neighbouring NHS hospitals.
Facilities management staff at the new field hospital at Manchester Central are employed by private contractor Interserve.
Union chiefs claim Interserve are not paying staff the nationally agreed NHS rates for the job.
They say the private contractor pays less than the NHS does for night and weekend work.
Interserve say they pay staff ‘over and above’ the standard rate for core hours but admitted the rates for nights and weekends were slightly less.
Hospital cleaners are currently being paid £5.89 per hour less for a Sunday shift than their NHS counterparts and £1.01 per hour less for night and Saturday shifts, according to UNISON.
James Bull, UNISON regional organiser, said: "The people who have answered the call to work for Interserve at Nightingale NW are exposing themselves to increased risk by cleaning clinical areas, supporting patients and providing vital services on the front line of this global health emergency.
"It's appalling to think that they may be short-changed for their crucial contribution to the national effort during this pandemic.
"The least they deserve in return is the same pay as an NHS worker in a hospital would expect under normal circumstances. Essential workers deserve respect- their pay should not be a lottery based on the hours they work.”
UNISON reps say they have asked hospital bosses to top up the pay of any Nightingale Hospital staff who are disadvantaged by Interserve’s pay rates to ensure that they are not worse off than their NHS employed colleagues.
They say these requests have been rejected by hospital managers.
An Interserve spokesperson said: "Our colleagues receive pay for their core hours which is over and above the hourly standard rate specified by the NHS's Agenda for Change, while non-core hours is slightly less.
“Our terms and conditions have been agreed by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West.
“Our colleagues access a range of benefits including: health and wellbeing support; access to emergency accommodation for if they live with a vulnerable person; free meals and free parking.
“We are proud of the work our colleagues are delivering at the NHS Nightingale Hospital North West.”
A spokesperson for the NHS Nightingale North West said Interserve's contract was with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).
A spokesperson for MFT said: "Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which oversees NHS Nightingale North West, has staff working under a number of different contractual situations."
Drop a heart on our special map of gratitude to show your support for our NHS heroes
To keep up with the latest breaking news and information on Covid-19 and the lockdown, and for things to do while you are staying in, join our dedicated coronavirus Facebook group.
