NHS estates staff consider strike action over privatisation plans

  • 26th June 2024

Hundreds of cleaners, porters, caterers, and other estates staff at Colchester Hospital could be affected if the move goes ahead

Staff at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust will vote on possible strike action over plans to privatise estates and facilities management (EFM) services.

UNISON has revealed its members are considering industrial action in a bid to prevent inhouse EFM services being outsourced to a private contractor.

Hundreds of cleaners, porters, caterers, and other estates staff at Colchester Hospital could be affected, with community sites also impacted if the move goes ahead.

Colchester Hospital EFM services were previously outsourced, but hospital chiefs brought them back in house, saying it was necessary to gain greater control over service delivery.

However, the organisation is now considering a U-turn and staff fear they could lose their jobs and pay and conditions could come under attack.

UNISON Eastern regional organiser, Sam Older, said: “Staff are still shocked at the callous decision to sell off their jobs.

“It’s hard to fathom who is supposed to benefit from the decision to put these services out to tender, but it’s certainly not staff or patients.

“These health workers are proud to work for the NHS and proud to put patients first. They don’t want to strike, but they don’t want to be sold off to the lowest bidder either.

“The trust can easily remove the threat of industrial action by scrapping these uncaring plans immediately.”

Nick Hulme, chief executive of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, added: “We continue to work closely with our staff and our staff side colleagues, including Unison.

“It is our commitment that we continue our engagement through the coming months.

“From the trust’s perspective, we have already had a number of helpful conversations.”

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