Monthly pay ‘will plunge hard-up NHS staff into chaos’

UNIONS have claimed low-paid workers at a Yorkshire NHS trust could be plunged into financial difficulties under plans to pay them monthly.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Jul 2013, 01:01 BST

Around 100 mainly cleaning and portering staff at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been told they will be switched from weekly pay through plans designed to save cash which are under consultation.

Charlie Curruth, regional organiser for Unison for health staff, described the move as “shabby treatment” but the trust insisted the policy only affected pay frequency and would help it to make savings.

A spokesperson said some 900 workers had already switched voluntarily and it would offer help to those others affected, including staged pay, should the move go ahead.

They added: “While we understand some people may prefer to stay on weekly pay, we have a duty to use taxpayers’ money as efficiently as possible. Running two pay systems does not do that.”