NHS hospital staff in Essex and Suffolk say they’ve ‘no choice’ but to strike
Cleaners, porters, caterers and other non-clinical support workers are walking out over plans to outsource their jobs
Hospital support staff across Essex and Suffolk have released an open letter to the public saying they have “no choice” but to strike to stop their jobs being sold out of the NHS.
Cleaners, porters, caterers and other non-clinical support workers who are part of the Unison union at the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) begin five days of strikes today, to stop the outsourcing of their roles.
It's the second strike in two months - Unison says a week-long strike last month seriously affected services at Colchester Hospital, where the majority of the threatened jobs are based.
"They’ll come after staff wages, sick pay and holidays"
In the letter, workers explain the strikes are “not about pay” but about protecting patients.
It reads: “Private contractors’ main aim is to make a profit. They’ll come after staff wages, sick pay and holidays, and also cut corners on cleaning, food standards and anything else they’re responsible for.”
“We’re proud to be the ones who hold your hand when you’ve got no-one else, offer you a cup of tea in your darkest moments or have a chat to keep your spirits up. But the trust thinks this makes us ‘too compassionate’ and that we’d be better separated out and unable to work as a team with our clinical colleagues.”
“We’re sorry for the disruption but ESNEFT has left us with no choice. We have to do this: for our futures, for the future of our service and for you, our patients.”
"They’d rather be supporting patients than standing on picket lines"
UNISON Eastern head of health Caroline Hennessy said: “ESNEFT facilities staff have consistently made it clear they’d rather be supporting patients than standing on picket lines.
“But they don’t want to see the quality services they provide sacrificed so a private company can make a profit.
“If senior managers at ESNEFT want to stop these strikes and look after patients, all they have to do is scrap their nonsensical plans to outsource services.”
Glenn Allen, a chef at Aldeburgh Hospital, in Suffolk, and one of the signatories to the letter, said: “We’ll keep campaigning to stay in the NHS and for the best care for our patients.
“Neither the trust’s chief executive nor his board seem to care about staff or patients, but we feel like we’re striking to save the integrity of the NHS. We don’t want to be sold off to a company that only cares about profit.”
What does ESNEFT say?
In a statement on its website, the trust says:
"We are committed to keeping disruption to services to a minimum and our focus is on patient care and safety.
"Patients in affected hospitals may notice fewer facilities staff on our wards. Our nursing team, doctors, therapists and all other staff will continue to care for patients as usual.
"If you have a hospital appointment please attend as planned.
"No hot food will be served in Senses restaurant at Colchester Hospital for the duration of the strikes. Hot food will be available in the shops at the hospital main entrance.
"The industrial action has been organised by the trade union UNISON. It’s about a decision by our Trust Board of Directors to test the market for potential external suppliers of some facilities services at our Trust.
"A final decision on this has not been made. It is due to be made in November."