Hospital support staff are considering industrial action over pay as the service moves back-in house.
Staff working for Sodexo at the Royal Sussex County Hospital raised safety concerns earlier this year over building works, staff shortages and a lack of equipment.
A few weeks later, Sodexo’s contract ended early and staff are due to be transferred to the Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust on August 1.
But before they transfer, they want their pay raised to living wage levels, as their current terms and conditions will be used as a benchmark for their salary in the future.
GMB organiser Gary Palmer said: “A lot of those staff are on the lowest pay banding, which is below the living wage.
“We want all those moved up a pay band so they are at least being paid the living wage, and also remain in the NHS’s Agenda for Change pay system.
“Staff have already twice voted to reject Sodexo’s pay offer.
“GMB’s intention is to seriously consider an industrial action ballot.
“We feel Sodexo owe it to the staff to do it before they leave the city. It looks like we are not going to be able to do that on negotiation alone.
In the first pay ballot, 73% of members responded with 98% voting against and in the second 70% responded with 97% voting against.
A spokeswoman for Sodexo said: “We continue to work closely with Brighton and Sussex University Trust and the unions to ensure a smooth transition of services prior to the transfer of the employees’ contract of employment from Sodexo to the trust.”
A spokeswoman for the NHS trust said it was unable to comment.
