Striking hospital staff who were told they do not deserve a pay rise have seen temporary staff parachuted into their roles on a higher salary.
It has emerged that “care support assistants” have been hired to fulfil ward duties, including portering, at Ninewells and Royal Victoria in Dundee.
They are being paid the band two salary received by hospital porters across Scotland with the exception of striking staff at the two hospitals.
NHS Tayside is adamant there is no contradiction as it says the temporary staff fulfil a variety of roles in addition to assisting with patient movement.
However, the revelation has disappointed the Unite union, which is representing porters during their industrial action.
Hard-pressed staff have seen their band one pay withheld as they strike and are relying on financial support from across the country.
Unite regional organiser Colin Coupar confirmed he had been told temporary staff were carrying out portering duties for more pay than the staff they had replaced.
He said he would meet striking staff this week to discuss the news but added that the porters were “a resolute bunch” who had learnt to take such blows on the chin.
“It is my understanding that they have been taken on in some hybrid capacity, which includes portering, but this latest news will not do NHS Tayside any favours with its employees,” Mr Coupar said.
NHS Tayside’s director of human resources George Doherty said the health board had not employed any new staff to “directly” carry out the porters’ duties.
“A small number of temporary care support assistants have recently been appointed to assist in clinical areas,” he said. “They are carrying out a wide range of duties on the wards and in other clinical areas to support the delivery of patient care and treatment.”
A Scottish Government-led mediation process will begin today.