WHAT is happening at the JR?

For some weeks your paper has been reporting about a dispute between the portering staff and the private sub-contractor Carillion over Carillion wanting to enforce pay cuts and shift changes on the portering staff, which is just typical of a private contractor only interested in profits, not staff or service. The staff voted for industrial action in a vote that was 100 per cent supported, run by the trade union Unison, yet nothing seems to have happened.

I have spoken to some friends who are porters at the JR. They are totally fed up with the situation, not only the behaviour of the employer but also the limited supported offered by Unison. Some of them are thinking of leaving the union as they feel they are wasting their money being members.

One must remember this group is key to running the hospital. Despite this, they are low paid, have poor terms and conditions and are treated badly. Unison needs to stop pussy-footing about and listen to their members before they have no members and the porters have their wages cut – something I am sure will not happen to the full-time union officers.

Roger Wallace
Banbury Road
Kidlington