NHS clerical staff in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract are on strike for three days from today over management plans to axe 70 jobs and cut the pay of 275 other staff. The three-day action follows the one-day strike on 1 November by medical secretaries, receptionists and clerks.
UNISON regional organiser Jim Bell said members had been forced to take the action because the management of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust is refusing to negotiate on their threat to jobs and pay.
Mr Bell said: “We had a huge majority for taking industrial action when we balloted members – and members of the UNITE union have also balloted to strike.
“On top of the threat to axe 70 jobs, our members are also faced with losing up to £2,700 in pay.
“This is at a time when the trust admits it has spent at least £3m on private sector consultants.
“The product of that vast expenditure was a recommendation to cut £600,000 from their annual budget.
“That is why the management wants to inflict brutal cuts to jobs and pay.
“Our members rightly think there is no need or justification for these cuts, especially when vast sums of public money are going straight into private consultants’ pockets.”
The strike will affect the day-to-day running of the hospitals, inevitably affecting activities like locating relevant files and administering appointments.
Pickets are out in force at the affected hospitals to demonstrate the strength of feeling on the issue.
Mr Bell said: “Our members are angry that the management has flatly refused to negotiate with us.
“My door is always open and I am always prepared for genuine negotiations.
“But if there is no progress we will certainly back members in taking further industrial action after the strike. Feelings are running very high.”
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside
Tweet messages of support to @unisonyh
