'Eliot strike threat over plan to 'farm workers out'

NUNEATON’S George Eliot Hospital could face strike action over claims it plans to 'farm out' some of its NHS staff to a subsidiary company.

- By CLAIRE HARRISON

That is according to the union Unison, which says that the trust that runs the hospital wants to move around 400 members of support staff, including cleaners, porters, and caterers, to a subco, which are companies owned by NHS trusts but set up at arms-length as non-NHS bodies.

Unison alleges that outsourced staff often have lower pay and worse conditions than workers employed directly by the NHS.

But Adam Carson, acting Chief Executive for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, said there would be no job losses and staff would “retain their NHS terms and conditions”.

Members of the board of the trust that runs the hospital were meeting this week to discuss the outsourcing plans.

Ollie Hopkins, the union’s West Midlands regional organiser, warned that if it is pushed ahead, there could be strike action.