New Five-Year Contract for ISS Despite Pay and Conditions Dispute

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22 July 2020

ISS Mediclean has signed a new five-year contract with Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, amidst reports of concerns about poor wages and working conditions.

According to HuffPost, the contract was awarded under a “voluntary ex-ante transparency” (VEAT) notice, which allowed it to bypass the tendering process due to complications surrounding COVID-19.

Unions are calling for ISS to deliver pay and conditions that provide parity with NHS colleagues at the hospital.

The contract is worth an estimated £30 million. 

 

“Matt Hancock should put the brakes on this contract until there’s been a full investigation into the issues. Otherwise unions will be forced to make a formal challenge to the awarding of the contract.”

– Maggi Ferncombe

Regional Secretary, UNISON London 

An “Outrageous and Blatant Attempt to get Around the Rules”.

The initial contract was awarded to ISS Mediclean in 2015 and included waste management, patient catering, retail catering for staff and visitors, healthcare cleaning, portering, security services, window cleaning, pest control, and linen management.

The contract has come under scrutiny recently, with the terms and conditions of ISS staff contracts at the trust described as “ much inferior” in terms of salary, sickness pay, pensions and routes for progression. 

GMB London, the union for outsourced porters, domestics, cleaners, catering and security staff employed at the trust, confirmed that they are aware that there has been no enhancement of pay and no better terms and conditions for ISS workers in the extended five-year contract between the Trust and ISS. 

UNISON is lobbying for the trust to scrap the ISS contract and directly employ staff, with London regional secretary Maggi Ferncombe penning a letter to the government to ask for “urgent intervention.”

Ferncombe commented: “This is an outrageous and blatant attempt to get around the rules. It drives a coach and horses through UK and EU regulations.

“Matt Hancock should put the brakes on this contract until there’s been a full investigation into the issues. Otherwise, unions will be forced to make a formal challenge to the awarding of the contract.”

This news comes as the government this week announced above-inflation pay rises for almost 900,000 public sector workers. 

Picture: A photograph showing a cleaning in progress sign

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 22 July 2020

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