Up to 100,000 health workers on private contracts have missed out on a pay rise – and get an average £1,600 a year less than NHS staff.
The lowest paid health service workers got a £2,000 increase as part of a deal agreed with unions last year.
But most private firms ignored the award and their staff have not received a penny, union leaders say.
It means porters, security guards and caterers struggle to make ends meet on the £8.21 an hour minimum wage – while some NHS bosses rake in millions.
Some work alongside NHS staff but get less – while private firms also pay staff different rates in different parts of the UK.
Health union Unison – whose conference starts in Bournemouth tomorrow – wants Government funding so everyone in the NHS earns at least £9.03 an hour.
Unison’s Sara Gorton said: “All hospital workers are part of the NHS team and should be paid fairly for the important jobs they do.”
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The cleaner
Cleaner Roy earns £16,000 at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust for private contractor Mitie.
He gets £8.21 per hour and says a pay rise of just 82p an hour to match colleagues on NHS contracts – would make a difference to him and his family.
He said: “Everything’s going up apart from our wages. It’s like a pay cut every year.”
Mitie chief Phil Bentley, 59, is on £900,000 – £461 an hour.
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The caterer
Caterer Alex gets the £8.21 an hour minimum wage from Sodexo at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, South Yorks.
He hasn’t had a rise in nine years.
“An NHS-style pay rise would mean an extra £1,600 a year – a huge difference. Holidays are out of the question and I think hard before buying anything not essential,” he said.
“We’re told we’re part of the NHS team but it doesn’t feel like it.”
