NHS staff in Bradford force trust bosses to climb down over ‘back door privatisation’ plans Employees have been embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute for several weeks, claiming that their NHS status was at risk

Some of the lowest paid staff at an NHS trust in Bradford have forced health bosses into a climb-down after they voted to go on indefinite strike in protest against “back door privatisation” plans.

Workers in the estates, facilities and clinical engineering departments at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have been embroiled in a bitter industrial dispute for several weeks, claiming that their NHS status was at risk.

Trust bosses had created a “wholly-owned subsidiary company” and were planning to transfer hundreds of NHS staff to the private company, whose directors were senior trust bosses. The majority of people affected by the change would be porters, cleaners and security and catering staff. They started a two-week strike on 1 August before voting to go on indefinite strike two weeks later, fearing the transfer would strip them of the protections they have as NHS employees. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had also thrown his support behind striking staff.

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The trust, which includes Bradford Royal Infirmary, St Luke’s Hospital and several community hospitals, had always denied it was privatising services. It had sought to reassure staff that their NHS terms and conditions would be “guaranteed for 25 years”, but Unison said it had received legal advice that this was an impossible promise to keep. Following “constructive talks” between the trust and Unison this week, facilitated by ACAS, the union agreed to suspend the indefinite industrial action that was due to begin on Monday.

Next steps

The trust has agreed not to proceed with the initial 1 October transfer date, although it has left the door open to carry on as planned. The trust’s Board of Directors will meet on 12 September to discuss the situation.

“Unison has been offered the opportunity to present its case to allow the Board to further reflect on the position previously taken,” a A joint statement by acting chief executive of the trust, John Holden, and Unison’s regional organiser, Natalie Ratcliffe, said.

“The outcome of this further consideration will be notified to Unison by the end of September 2019. Should the Board continue with its plans to form Bradford Healthcare Facilities Management Ltd it has been agreed that the earliest transfer date will now be 15 February 2020.”

A Unison spokesperson added: “Unison has suspended the strike planned for next week after Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust agreed not to transfer staff to its private company in the autumn. After three weeks of action over the last two months the union will be meeting with the trust’s board in September to make the case for keeping the 300 plus dedicated health workers within the NHS.”

Dr Tony O’Sullivan, co-chair of Keep Our NHS Public, told i: “It is very good news to postpone this dreadful decision to outsource NHS staff to the trust’s private company. Well done Unison staff. I hope common sense prevails when the Trust Board listens to Unison in September and this damaging decision is shelved- helping to end this backdoor privatisation policy.”