Island employees face 50-day wage wait
A hundred local employees of a facilities management firm face 50 days without pay following its acquisition by a multi-billion pound corporation. Concerns have emerged among staff of FES FM after the new owners imposed changes to their payment terms.
FES FM have become an established presence in the island over the last decade following the Sgoiltean Ura project created a partnership to build and maintain schools. They are also responsible for Hebridean Housing Partnership properties.
However, a major change has been introduced following the takeover by OCS, who describe themselves as a “£3.3 billion international facilities management company and performance partner”.
Staff in Stornoway were summoned to a meeting last week where they were informed that the transfer of their contracts of employment would result in changes to their pay cycle. It became clear to employees that while this was “bedding in”, they will be left without a wage for 50 days.
Donald Mackinnon MSP has taken up the workers' cause. “I am very concerned by the approach being taken by OCS,” he said. “The change of pay date will put significant pressure on employees who will go seven weeks without pay.
“No worker should be put in that kind of position – particularly in the run up to Christmas. OCS should look at alternative options to reduce the length between pay dates.”
Mr Mackinnon added: "The current proposal is far from satisfactory and I will be contacting them to ask them to reconsider their plans.”
OCS have offered employees “additional support payments” but these are classed as a loan which will be deducted from pay in January, February and March. OCS states in its correspondence with the workforce that they do not recognise trade unions.
Local employees who spoke to the Gazette expressed surprise that a company with such massive resources should have found it necessary to impose the new terms of payment. This did not, they said, inspire confidence for future relations.
Stevie Dillon Unite regional coordinator said: "Unite has demanded action to stop workers being left without pay for up to seven weeks as a result of the transfer to OCS.
"It is unacceptable that the company is proposing to unilaterally change workers' monthly pay dates, leading to two weeks' worth of pay being effectively lost.
"The proposal by OCS to offer bridging loans which workers will need pay back are also unsatisfactory. This detrimental change has the potential to impact thousands of workers and we will be examining all legal options to prevent this from being implemented."
The Gazette has approached OCS for comment. The company, which is based in Croydon, acquired FES FM for £600 million in 2025.