Workers and unions across the UK are paying the wages of striking hospital staff in Dundee, The Courier can reveal.
Porters have put their financial security on the line in order to protest against their pay, with employers withholding significant sums from staff.
But tens of thousands of pounds have flooded into Dundee from cities and towns north and south of the border since industrial action began six weeks ago.
Picture gallery: Striking hospital staff rally in Dundee city centre
Unite union officials said the financial support described as “embarrassingly generous” had so far been enough to make up much of the shortfall in wages docked by NHS Tayside.
In fact, the funds have been such that they are also bankrolling the union’s campaign to secure a pay review and £2 million in back pay from the health board.
Striking staff and officials were joined by family members and union workers from across Scotland at a major rally in Dundee’s City Square on Saturday.
Unite will have one further meeting with NHS Tayside today ahead of the “indefinite strike action” that begins at 6am tomorrow.
The union has also secured a meeting this week with North East Scotland MSP and shadow health secretary Jenny Marra as it works to exert pressure upon employers.
Regional organiser Colin Coupar told those at the rally there would be financial hardship ahead but said the generosity of workers across the country would help ensure they could not be “starved out”.
“Donations have been flooding in from across the country to support the strike effort,”Mr Coupar said.
“We’ve received £5,000 from our Glasgow branch, £1,000 from the ambulance service and significant sums from workers at Michelin, who have pledged a weekly donation.
“Money has even come from dock workers in Liverpool.”
Speaking after the rally, which he attended to show support for the porters, Dundee West End Labour councillor Richard McCready urged Health Secretary Shona Robison to meet NHS Tayside bosses as “a matter of urgency”.
Unite and NHS Tayside have been involved in an increasingly bitter war of words over claims that porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria hospitals have been underpaid for a decade.