“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."      

UNISON members who work in estates and facilities at Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh NHS Foundation Trust have voted against a proposal that would see their jobs outsourced to a new company. 

Strong employee opposition to the initial outsourcing plan led to the Trust giving staff some assurances on terms and conditions, progression in the proposed new company, and on what would happen if the company failed.  However, in a ballot of affected members that closed today (Monday), 82% voted NO to the proposal with a 69% turnout.  A similar result in a formal ballot would give the legal authority for members to take industrial 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.”