SECURITY staff at Southampton General Hospital will begin strike action next week after crunch talks over safety and pay disputes broke down.

Starting on Friday, April 5, this will be the first of eight days of planned walk-outs over the coming months.

The 21 workers – who are part of union Unite – say this has come after issues were raised at the lack of action taken by employer Mitie Security, as well as University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, following “regular” attacks by members of the public.

A meat cleaver, a rusty saw blade, and a five-inch knife have all been confiscated following incidents with security on hospital grounds.

Crunch talks took place yesterday (March 26), but union members say Mitie was unable to give sufficient guarantees about the introduction of protective gear, such as stab vests, and so staff will now strike.

The talks, under the auspices of the conciliation service Acas, also looked to address issues with pay rates and sick pay.

No further talks are planned.

It is understood Mitie will bring in other security staff from neighbouring sites to cover the strike periods.

Next Friday, the first 24-hour strike will take place, followed by further walk-outs on April 19, and May 24. There will also be a 48-hour stoppage starting on May 3 and a 72-hour strike on June 7.

An overtime ban will also come into force when the strikes begin next week.

Unite officer Scott Kemp said: “The Acas talks broke down as the Mitie management failed to provide sufficient guarantees about the introduction of the vital protective equipment we have repeatedly requested.

“Mitie said that it is prepared to look at stab vests; however, there is no timescale associated with their introduction and no guarantee that they would be approved by the trust’s infection control team.

“Unite also asked that leg restraints be used across the hospital rather than just in A&E. Again, the Mitie bosses said they can’t guarantee that will happen as they will have to ask the trust.”

Union members also demanded an increase in pay from the current £8.64 per hour to £10.50 for security officers and £12.16 for supervisors, with additional payments of 50p per hour on night rates, £1 an hour on Saturday, and double time on Sunday.

Mr Kemp added: “On sick pay, Mitie offered an increase to four weeks full pay followed by four weeks half pay, but it remains the case that this applies only if someone is injured carrying out their role.

“There has been no real movement on this.

“Lastly, Mitie offered an increase on the base rate for security officers to £9 an hour with no increase for supervisors. There has been no movement at all on unsocial weekend payments.

“In essence, Mitie is locked into its contract with the trust and claims there will be no more offers on pay unless the trust offers more money.

“As a result, the strikes will be going ahead and Mitie is planning to parachute in security guards from different sites to cover the strikes, but they won’t have the appropriate training or site knowledge to be effective.

“The lack of urgency on Mitie’s part to resolve these personal protection issues at the Tremona Road site remains a disgrace.”