HOSPITAL staff have rejected a pay offer and plan to continue with planned strike action.

Employer iFM Bolton offered to pay staff the real living wage rate (£8.75 per hour) calculated by the Living Wage Foundation.

Caters, porters and cleaners rejected this offer as their colleagues paid under the NHS system receive £8.93 per hour.

Tim Ellis, UNISON organiser said: "Staff spoke very clearly and determinedly at our meetings about how they want the dignity of common treatment. Staff perform important roles in the hospital, and there should be NHS pay rates for all NHS staff.

"Bolton iFM’s latest offer shows that they have the resources to pay close to the NHS rate in the short term. It would be easy for them now to pay staff the proper rate and commit to their workforce in future."

iFM's offer was conditional on calling the strike off.

Finance Director for Bolton iFM Lesley Wallace said: “Naturally, it is very disappointing that negotiations, although positive, have not resulted in strike action being avoided. We have listened and acted, improving our offer to staff, and committing to become a Real Living Wage Employer as of October 1, 2018, which is something unions have been campaigning for all employers to become.

“For bands A&B, this represents an immediate wage increase from £7.83 an hour to £8.75 an hour. A benchmarking exercise of similar organisations shows that Bolton iFM’s second offer of £8.75 per hour compares well and in most cases better than the amount offered elsewhere for the same bands.

“This latest wage increase is not funded by the government and the company is mindful of the need to protect the future financial stability of the organisation.

"If the pay offer is accepted, additional efficiencies will have to be found to cover the costs involved. While we do have contingency plans in place to minimise any disruption during industrial action, we are still hopeful it can be avoided and agreement reached.”