Strikes off in Dorset after U-turn in outsourcing NHS staff row

Hundreds of health staff in Dorset won’t be taking strike action this autumn after their employers halted plans that could’ve seen them transferred out of the NHS, says UNISON today (Monday).

Three trusts – Dorset HealthCare University, Dorset County Hospital, and University Hospitals Dorset – had wanted to move over 1,700 mainly low-paid support workers to a subsidiary company, known as a subco*.

However, NHS England issued new guidance saying proposals to move health staff into separate companies would be paused. It also said any future transfer of workers would only be approved where there is clear union support.

In a letter to UNISON, the trusts said they were axing plans to transfer NHS staff into a subsidiary company.

Low paid staff at the three trusts had overwhelmingly backed industrial action, with 94% of workers, including porters, caterers and cleaners, voting for walkouts over the outsourcing plans.

The union said the change would bring welcome relief to the Dorset health workers and was also good news for NHS staff in other parts of the country fighting the threat of outsourcing.

Ahead of last year’s general election, Labour promised to “bring about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation”.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The decision by the trusts to halt these plans will bring welcome relief to staff who feared their pay and conditions were going to be worsened.

“All NHS trusts need to follow this example and immediately halt plans to outsource staff. Those that don’t should expect to be met with a wave of opposition and industrial action.

UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent said: “This is an important victory for staff at these trusts.

“The huge support for strike action showed just how strongly health workers feel about any erosion of their pay and conditions.

“The NHS depends on support staff to keep hospitals clean, safe and running efficiently. Many are already low-paid and farming them off to subsidiary companies would’ve left them with an even worse deal.”