Date: 22 November 2007

UNISON welcomes step forward in parking charges dispute

UNISON today welcomed the announcement by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, that it was delaying the further roll out of the unpopular car parking charges, pending publication of the review from the Cabinet Secretary for Health. The review is due to report at the end of November.

UNISON Regional Officer Matt McLaughlin said, "The delay in applying these unfair charges to Stobhill and the Southern General is a welcome step in the right direction. Of course it doesn't resolve the issue at the existing hospitals where these charges are still in force. We hope that this means that NHS GG&C will now open talks on the problems that the charges are causing staff.

"They mean that staff have a choice of paying through the nose to come to their work, adding to congestion in streets around the hospitals or risking attack by having to arrive and leave hospitals on foot late at night or early in the morning when few people are around and there is little public transport."

ENDS

For Further Information Please Contact: Matt McLaughlin (Regional Organiser) 0870 7777 006 (w) 07904 341 979 Chris Bartter (Communications Officer) 0870 7777 006(w) 0771 558 3729(m)

Index