Serco staff protest in Swindon over denied bonuses aligning with NHS counterparts; Unison backs action.
About 20 workers showed up daily. More employees also joined the protest. They were upset with the company Serco.
Matthew Dymond is an organizer for Unison. He said the protest went well. It was very cold outside that week. They had coffee, tea, and samosas. The local council and MPs supported them. There was a strong sense of community. The workers had to wake up early.
The workers argued with Serco. They did not get bonuses NHS staff received. The bonus was £1,655 twice. It was part of their contracts. They had these contracts since June 2023. These payments covered the previous year.
Stone attended both protests. He spoke about working during the pandemic. Union members cleaned the hospital during COVID. They moved patients and dead bodies. Now, people feel very disappointed. Serco still hasn’t offered a deal.
Many union members have jobs in the hospital. Some work as cleaners or kitchen staff. Others work in the bloodhouse. Stone stated the payment is from over two years ago. It is a matter of principle to them. Hospital workers keep everything running.
Stone reported a meeting happened. The union, MPs, and Serco met February 3. Serco was unwilling to make any offer. The strike was planned for January 29. It was going to last 48 hours. They paused it for talks with Serco.
Tom Kennedy-Hughes made a statement. He is a Unison regional organizer. He said Serco didn’t take talks seriously. This was an insult to the hardworking staff. He feels workers deserve the same pay. It’s time Serco made a fair offer.
Serco made £247 million in 2023. They expect even larger profits in 2024. The company contracts public services globally. They employ over 50,000 people. They operate in 20 countries. These countries exist across many continents.
A Serco spokesperson commented on the issue. They met with two MPs to discuss the payment. These MPs agreed to help by talking to the health department. Serco is disappointed about the strike. They will keep working to find a solution.