NHS workers at a Scottish hospital fear they may temporarily lose a week’s wages in a shake-up of payroll by a private contractor.
Unions and staff are concerned at the decision affecting about 300 facilities staff at Hairmyres in Lanarkshire.
Contractor ISS pays its staff fortnightly in arrears.
But from May, a new system comes in with a one-week time lag, which means workers will have to wait three weeks for their wages.
Unions claim staff will only be paid two weeks’ wages and they say the third week may be held back until staff leave employment.
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ISS offered interest-free bridging loans to staff and set up a “helpdesk” to answer questions.
Johanna Baxter, regional organiser for the Unison union, said: “Families will struggle and those on the lowest incomes are at risk of falling into debt.”
Union members are due to rally at Hairmyres today before a wider UK day of action on April 11.
GMB Scotland senior organiser Drew Duffy said: “This payroll imposition is a cash grab on our members’ earnings and both NHS Lanarkshire and the Scottish Government should be coming down on ISS like a ton of bricks.”
In a letter to the GMB, NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Calum Campbell said as many as 29,000 ISS staff will be affected across the UK.
The company has provided facilities management services at the East Kilbride hospital since 2001.
Labour health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said: “This is absolutely scandalous.
“Hospital staff work day and night to give patients world-class care, the least they deserve is to be paid on time and in full by their employer.
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"I have written to the Health Secretary urging her to intervene and ensure these hardworking hospital staff get paid what they are owed without any delay.”
John White, NHS Lanarkshire director of human resources, said the trust had no input into the change.
He added that trade union representatives and management had raised staff concerns with ISS.
ISS said the new system would help improve their service to employees.
It added that it was making sure all employees were aware of and ready for the change.
The facilities firm confirmed that the first month of the new process would result in some employees having to wait longer for their pay than they do currently and confirmed that bridging loans were being offered.
It added that “financial and emotional support” was being made available and it was giving employees the chance to discuss any concerns.
