Chaos looms at major UK hospital as 600 staff threaten to go on strike | UK | News
Barnsley Hospital (Image: MALE MEDIA)
Hundreds of workers at a major hospital in England have said they are ready to strike after a union claimed NHS bosses were “threatening to fire and rehire” them. More than 600 workers at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust took part in a consultative vote; With a turnout of more than 76%, 97 percent of workers voted to take strike action.
The NHS trust said it aimed to “bring the trust into line with almost all other NHS hospital trusts and with the national NHS terms and conditions agreed by unions and the NHS some years ago”. The GMB union claims the trust is trying to strip thousands of staff, including nurses, technicians and office workers, of their right to 20-minute paid shifts by imposing new contracts on them.
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GMB has now lodged a formal dispute with the foundation and will meet with representatives to discuss next steps, including a full strike vote, if the foundation does not back down.
GMB Organizer Rachel Dix said: “Hundreds of GMB members at Barnsley Hospital have voted overwhelmingly for strike action if the trust does not stop this attack to eliminate paid breaks and increase unpaid hours on the job.
“Following this incredible result, which resulted in a dramatic increase in membership growth, GMB had a collective falling out with the employer.
“We await their answers, but our members are clear; they are prepared to see this through to the end unless the hostile shooting and re-recruitment is stopped and remains untouched.”
Indicative voting is a way for the union to ask members their opinion on a particular issue (in this case, whether to accept the employer’s wage offer); but does not permit industrial action.
Sometimes it will be followed by a formal or legal vote – once workers’ sentiments have been heard.
Strictly regulated by law, these meetings must be held by post only, meet strict attendance and voting thresholds, and require members to vote for actions other than industrial action or strikes.
The union can only legally take industrial action if the formal vote is successful.
A Barnsley Hospital spokesman added: “The proposals will bring the trust into line with almost all other NHS hospital trusts and with national NHS terms and conditions agreed by unions and the NHS some years ago.
“This will ensure more staff are on duty for patients and reduce reliance on temporary staff.
“Evidence shows this will improve patient care and safety, support staff wellbeing, reduce healthcare costs and increase staff retention.
“The trust has held eight months of consultations with affected staff and unions and these discussions are ongoing.
“The GMB has not taken a formal vote on industrial action but has submitted an internal collective complaint which will be heard in accordance with its trust policies.
“We continue to engage with staff, unions and ACAS to try to address key concerns – more than 1,000 of the approximately 1,500 employees affected by the proposed changes have signed up to accept the revised terms and conditions.”
The trust added: “The welfare of staff is a priority for the trust. Ensuring colleagues have adequate rest breaks is crucial to reducing fatigue and protecting health.
“We are committed to providing appropriate breaks in line with best practice and national NHS terms and conditions.
“This process has been guided by our commitment to fairness and consistency, addressing long-standing informal arrangements and differences between departments in how breaks are awarded, which has raised concerns about equality among other groups of staff taking unpaid breaks.”
