Hundreds of hospital staff to go on strike
PORTERS, cleaners and caterers will stage a five-day mass walk out at Wigan’s hospitals.
Canteens and shops at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Leigh Infirmary and Wrightington Hospital will be closed from June 28 to July 3 as more than 600 NHS staff go on strike.
Hospital bosses are warning people to stay away from A&E unless it’s an emergency, saying that although there are no plans to cancel appointments or operations, ‘where possible’ patients should use alternative services such as GPs, walk-in centres and pharmacies.
The industrial action comes after Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust revealed plans to outsource NHS workers’ jobs to a new company called WWL Solutions.
Around 900 staff are affected, with union chiefs at Unison saying many fear the move will put their jobs, pay and conditions at risk.
There are also concerns employees will be moved into the private sector, and workers have already staged two previous 48-hour strikes in May and June in opposition to the proposals.
The planned strike will take place the day after the trust’s board meeting, at which a decision will be taken on how to move forward.
A spokesman for WWL NHS FT said: “Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust is deeply disappointed that union members have decided to take strike action once again.”