Health secretary’s Dundee office besieged by porters’ supporters

Ninewells patients have besieged the Health Secretary’s Dundee office, demanding she do more to support striking porters.

At least 30 people gathered outside Shona Robison’s office to urge her to take action to help the workers.

The Ninewells Porters Support Group had hoped to influence the Dundee East MSP as she took her weekly surgery for constituents.

However, she was not in attendance at the scheduled meeting and constituency aides said the protest outside their office was a matter for the Scottish Government.

Two shop stewards with Unite the union said one of the health secretary’s aides had arranged a meeting with the Dundee East MSP for Monday afternoon.

Ron Henney said he welcomed the chance to sit down with Ms Robison, but added he was not holding out much hope the meeting would bear fruit.

He told The Courier: “We had a meeting with her in March before the full strike started and she made all the right noises.

“But since then we have heard nothing. We’ve sent her three emails and never heard a thing.”

Unite argue that porters at NHS Tayside’s Ninewells and Royal Victoria hospitals have been underpaid for years a claim NHS Tayside dispute.