A UNION says that Cumberland Infirmary support staff who will today take strike action over not receiving unsocial hours pay are ‘flabbergasted’ that no solution has yet been found to the dispute.

Unison and the GMB ­— the unions representing the porters, cleaners, switchboard and catering staff who are involved ­— are also furious that they have not received enhanced pay rates for working nights and weekends.

Yet they say any NHS staff who may be drafted into to do their work during the strike would get extra pay for working the same unsocial hours.

The unions say the staff were promised the better pay rates more than a decade ago as part of a national pay deal ­— but this was never been honoured amid confusion over whether the funding was provided to the original firm involved.

The 150 staff involved were employed by Interserve, but now work for Mitie, after the firm took over the facilities management contract.

Last-minute talks this week with Mitie and the NHS trust which runs clinical services at the hospital failed to reach agreement.

The talks on Monday and Tuesday were mediated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

Unison regional organiser David Atkinson said both unions want an investigation into the whereabouts of a “substantial sum” of money which North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust says was passed on to fund unsocial hours pay.

Mr Atkinson said: “These staff are on our NHS frontline and they’re flabbergasted that they can’t sort this out.

"All sides agree they should get the pay, but they can’t agree on who should pay for it.

“It’s incredibly disappointing.”

The hospital support staff plan two 24-hour strikes ­— one today, and again on Monday, March 1, to secure their campaign.

A Mitie spokeswoman said: “As Unison is well aware, we are not in a position to provide a guarantee at this time. The Trust and HMC are continuing talks to resolve the situation and agree a long-term solution for all parties.

“Our focus is on ensuring the hospital continues to receive the support it needs and patient safety is prioritised, particularly with the unprecedented challenges presented by Covid-19.”

She said that Mitie was paying the agreed rates in line with the commercial contract.

A trust spokeswoman said: “We encourage Mitie to resolve this dispute and along with the PFI company, HMC, the Trust continues to engage with them for this to be achieved. Mitie’s plans to maintaining services for the patients and public is our key priority at this time and we are working closely with Mitie’s local team to ensure arrangements are in place to sustain safe services despite the action taking place.”