SECURITY staff at Lancashire hospitals have launched a campaign for improved pay and conditions.

The staff, employed by private firm Engie at Blackburn Royal Hospital and Burnley General Hospital, both of which are part of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, say that despite working hard to keep patients and colleagues safe they are still paid less than those employed directly by the NHS.

As a result, members of the public sector union UNISON are now campaigning for Engie employees to receive the same pay and enhancements as NHS workers, beginning with a petition open to members of the public.

A campaign organiser said: "Engie security staff at Blackburn and Burnley hospitals work around the clock to keep people safe at the hospital but are paid far less than our colleagues who do the same job for the NHS.

"We are often forced to take on unhealthy amounts of overtime that take us away from their families and impacts our health and wellbeing due to low pay.

"For too long outsourced companies have exploited their staff for private profit."

He added: "As a vital part of the NHS team, Engie Security staff deserve the same pay and conditions as our NHS colleagues."

Engie, formerly known as GDF Suez, is a French energy and engineering company that has been acquiring public-sector contracts for cleaning, janitorial, maintenance and security services in the UK since 2013.

According to the company's 'responsible business report' Engie is committed to promoting the living wage.

However, the company has been found to have failed to do so in several cases with regard to security staff in hospitals around the UK.

Engie employees in Tameside and Glossop had already voted for strike action last July in protest at pay rates of just £8.72 an hour, or lower for under-25s, with workers in Salford having launched similar action against the company last year.

Now, security staff in Blackburn and Burnley hope that this is the beginning of a campaign to secure equal rates of pay.

UNISON North West regional organiser Sue Glithero said: “Security staff put themselves in danger every day to keep patients and staff safe.

"ONS figures show that male security guards have the highest risk of dying as a result of Covid-19.

“This hidden workforce is being treated as second-class citizens, working within hospitals at great personal risk but not being considered part of the NHS.

"It’s time for this to end."

A spokesperson for ENGIE said “We are currently in discussions with both the Trust and Unison regarding the pay and terms for our security guards at Blackburn Royal Hospital and Burnley General Hospital. 

"It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the situation further at this time.”

To find out more about the campaign, go to: https://www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/fair-pay-for-east-lancs-engie-security-staff-1.