Over 200 workers employed by private contractor Medirest at King's Mill, Mansfield Community and Newark Hospital will stage a one-day strike on Friday 17 May after they failed to receive the bonus granted to their NHS colleagues.

Cameron Mitchell, GMB organiser, said: 'Strike day will no doubt see huge disruption to the services at these three hospitals.

'Medirest workers are being treated like second class staff compared to workers employed directly by the NHS.

'Just like their colleagues on NHS contracts, they worked through Covid delivering key services to patents; yet they are yet to be paid the Covid recovery bonus they were promised.

'These workers are demanding the dignity and recognition they deserve; it's a disgrace that Medirest bosses have pushed them to this.'

A Medirest spokesperson said the eligibility criteria for the bonus payment was the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care, adding: 'While we are pleased that some of our employees have been identified as eligible and are due to receive the bonus payment imminently, we recognise it is disappointing for those who do not meet the government's eligibility criteria.

'All our employees received a separate pay uplift last year and have access to range of employee benefits. We are disappointed with GMB's decision to proceed with industrial action.

'If it goes ahead, in partnership with the trust, we have put in place contingency measures to limit any disruption to services for patients.' 

Hospital workers at three Nottinghamshire hospitals are to strike after being left out of a Covid bonus payment.

Over 200 workers employed by private contractor Medirest at King's Mill, Mansfield Community and Newark Hospital will stage a one-day strike on Friday 17 May after they failed to receive the bonus granted to their NHS colleagues.

Cameron Mitchell, GMB organiser, said: 'Strike day will no doubt see huge disruption to the services at these three hospitals.

'Medirest workers are being treated like second class staff compared to workers employed directly by the NHS.

'Just like their colleagues on NHS contracts, they worked through Covid delivering key services to patents; yet they are yet to be paid the Covid recovery bonus they were promised.

'These workers are demanding the dignity and recognition they deserve; it's a disgrace that Medirest bosses have pushed them to this.'

A Medirest spokesperson said the eligibility criteria for the bonus payment was the responsibility of the Department of Health and Social Care, adding: 'While we are pleased that some of our employees have been identified as eligible and are due to receive the bonus payment imminently, we recognise it is disappointing for those who do not meet the government's eligibility criteria.

 'All our employees received a separate pay uplift last year and have access to range of employee benefits. We are disappointed with GMB's decision to proceed with industrial action.

'If it goes ahead, in partnership with the trust, we have put in place contingency measures to limit any disruption to services for patients.'