Staff at Shotts clinical waste firm handed redundancy notices

Clyde News understands staff at troubled Healthcare Environmental Services in Shotts have been handed redundancy notices.

The company has ceased operations and workers have been told they will need to go to the Government for the money they are owed.

The firm, which employs 150 people here and another 400 at sites across the UK, lost 17 NHS England contracts earlier this year.

A criminal investigation was also opened after it emerged clinical waste was piling up at sites.

Staff were also told earlier this week they would not receive their December wages.

Clyde News has seen a copy of the redundancy notice in which the head of the company Garry Pettigrew says he offers his sincerest apologise to staff.

He also claims they have been offered no help from either the UK or Scottish Government's throughout the scandal.

A letter from HES managing director Garry Pettigrew said: “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.''

HES had said a shortage of incinerators led to the backlog problem and it blamed “unfair Government pressure'' on the business for the redundancy notices.

The letter, which was shared on social media, claimed a bank had withheld funds “due to pressure from political and market perception of our company''.

It read: “As a company, we have been exploring all avenues, both politically and commercially, through enterprise schemes and sales of parts and the whole of the business to try to secure the future of the employees and the company.

“We have been given no assistance at any time, from the politicians or enterprise bodies in England or Scotland, we have been unable to resolve matters, and accordingly the company will cease trading on December 27, 2018.''

In November, HES said it was to sue the NHS organisations which terminated their contracts.

The Environment Agency had previously said the firm was found to be in breach of permits at four of its six sites in England which deal with clinical waste, and a criminal investigation was launched.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency also previously confirmed it had issued enforcement notices at sites in Dundee and Shotts.

In the redundancy notice, HES said it was unable to make payments but it directed staff to the Redundancy Payment Service to claim money owed.

Mr Pettigrew's letter said: “The company very much regrets that it has become necessary to make redundancies and that you have been affected.

“I would like to offer my sincere apology in this regard and to thank you for your hard work and contribution to the company during your employment.''

Airdrie and Shotts SNP MP Neil Gray said: “It seems clear that this situation could have been avoided but actions at a UK Government level have made it unavoidable.

“It is time UK ministers took some responsibility and also agreed to an independent inquiry into their handling of this whole affair.

“Alex Neil MSP and I have already written to the Scottish and UK governments asking for urgent intervention."

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: "This is another example of workers being treated appallingly over the Christmas period and is a devastating blow to the Shotts community.

"HES held clinical waste contracts with 18 Scottish health boards and whilst waste contingency plans have been activated, people are rightly asking where is the help for the workers?

"The public need to have confidence that our NHS is equipped to cope and that reports of clinical waste being stockpiled are under control.

"Scottish ministers and their UK Government counterparts must make an urgent statement and commit to fully investigating exactly what has gone on, especially as a new NHS Scotland contract is due to be awarded in the new year.

"The Scottish Government must confirm what assistance is currently in place for the HES workforce and if TUPE arrangements (employee protections) can be put in place."