Hundreds of NHS staff could strike
WORKERS ARE UNHAPPY AT PROPOSALS TO OUTSOURCE THEIR JOBS TO NEW COMPANY
HUNDREDS of NHS staff could go on strike if hospital bosses don’t overturn plans to outsource their jobs to a new company.
Almost 900 workers across Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are threatened by the changes, which are set to be introduced in May.
Catering staff, cleaners and porters at the trust’s three hospitals – Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Leigh Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital – are just some of those affected.
They say they want to stay part of the NHS team, fearing the move would result in their terms and conditions being cut, and ultimately see them moved into the private sector.
There are also concerns that new starters would be worse off than their colleagues, creating a two-tier workforce, with some on lower pay and pensions. But the trust says WWL Solutions would provide ‘the best future’ for staff and patients.
Unison members working within the hospitals have voted against the outsourcing plans.
A ballot of the union’s affected staff saw 82 per cent vote ‘no’ to the proposal, with a 69pc turn out.
According to Unison, a similar result in a formal ballot would lead to strike action.
Sean Gibson, Unison north west regional organiser, said: “Staff feel very strongly about the value of being employed by the NHS.
“Catering staff, cleaners and porters all want to stay part of the NHS team.
“We will be holding meetings with members across the main hospital sites this week with a view to a formal ballot for industrial action.
“We are open to meet with management, but they have to be clear that their outsourcing proposal is simply unacceptable to the vast majority of our members.”
Wigan MP Lisa Nandy said she was fully behind staff, and urged the trust to scrap the proposals.
In a video statement on Facebook, she said: “This week, staff at Wigan’s hospital trust overwhelmingly rejected plans to move them out of the NHS and into a subsidiary company.
“Those plans would fail to guarantee hard fought-for working rights such as pensions and create a two-tier workforce within our local NHS.
“I believe that those staff have been brave and right in rejecting these plans, and standing up for high-quality patient care, and for an NHS that remains in public hands.
“I’m now calling on the trust to drop these proposals before they do any more damage.
“And I want a strong message going to those staff that I will stand with them while they continue to stand up for our NHS.”
A spokesman for WWL said: “Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust believes that WWL Solutions provides the best future for staff and patients.
“The trust has, and continues to, engage with staff to ensure the optimal solution for all is achieved.’’