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HES staff summoned to meetings amid job loss fears HES: Clinical waste firm staff made redundant
(about 4 hours later)
Workers at a troubled clinical waste firm in North Lanarkshire have been called to meetings amid fears that jobs could be lost. Workers at a troubled clinical waste firm in North Lanarkshire have been handed redundancy notices.
Healthcare Environmental Services Ltd (HES) has asked staff to come to its Shotts headquarters on Thursday. Healthcare Environmental Services (HES) told staff the firm was ceasing trading with immediate effect.
On Christmas Eve, employees were sent text messages warning them they might not be paid this Friday. In a letter given to employees, managing director Garry Pettigrew said it was due to "unforeseen circumstances".
Bosses claimed their bank had refused to release funds for the pay run. About 150 people are employed at the firm's base in Shotts, and almost 400 at depots throughout the UK.
The BBC has approached HES for a comment. Employees had earlier been sent text messages warning them they might not be paid this week, with HES claiming its bank had refused to release funds.
About 150 people are employed at the firm's base in North Lanarkshire, and almost 400 at depots throughout the UK. They were then called to meetings on Thursday morning, where they were handed redundancy notices.
An employee told the BBC: "We are supposed to be paid on Friday 28 December. Some of the drivers have been told not to come to work for their runs this week. The letter said: "I write to you to inform you that your position in the company will be made redundant with immediate effect.
"I apologise that there have been no previous consultations on this matter, however there are unforeseen circumstances that have proven to be outwith our control".
The company has responsibility for disposing of clinical waste from every hospital, GP's surgery, dental practice and pharmacy in Scotland.
But it lost 17 contracts with NHS trusts in England earlier this year as a criminal inquiry was launched into a build up of waste at some of its depots.
HES has claimed its reputation was destroyed by the UK government, and said a shortage of incinerators rather than its actions was to blame for the problems.
Earlier this month the firm was also informed it would lose its NHS Scotland contract in April of next year, and subsequently said sits banking facilities had been cut off.
Ahead of Thursday's meetings, one staff member told BBC Scotland: "We are supposed to be paid on Friday 28 December. Some of the drivers have been told not to come to work for their runs this week.
"I think we will be told it's over.""I think we will be told it's over."
Staff have also expressed concern that waste is piling up at the Shotts depot. He also said the Shotts facility was "full of pallets of waste", some of which had been there for more than three weeks, and added: "There are containers positioned outside the gates so that no one can get in."
The employee said: "Shotts is full of pallets of waste. Some of them have been there for a lot more than three weeks.
"There are containers positioned outside the gates so that no one can get in."
It is believed office staff have been asked to attend at 09:00, drivers at 10:30 and plant staff at 12:00 on Thursday.
HES previously lost 17 contracts with NHS trusts in England, and a criminal inquiry was launched into a build up of waste at some of its depots.
The company claimed its reputation was destroyed by the UK government, and said a shortage of incinerators rather than its actions was to blame for the problems.
In early December the firm was informed it would lose its NHS Scotland contract in April and said its banking facilities had been cut off.
The firm said it had made repeated requests for an urgent meeting with NHS Scotland "to ensure continuation of the service" but it had not received a response.The firm said it had made repeated requests for an urgent meeting with NHS Scotland "to ensure continuation of the service" but it had not received a response.
It added that it was still hopeful that it could continue to work with the health service in Scotland.
On 12 December National Services Scotland (NSS) said it had taken responsibility for waste from every hospital, GP surgery, dental practice and pharmacy to cope with a potential backlog of clinical waste after HSE withdrew its service.On 12 December National Services Scotland (NSS) said it had taken responsibility for waste from every hospital, GP surgery, dental practice and pharmacy to cope with a potential backlog of clinical waste after HSE withdrew its service.
The BBC has approached HES for a comment.