GMB Union will not allow a private company which is making huge profits out of the NHS to erode the pay, terms and conditions of our hard-working members
GMB, the union for NHS staff, is set to ballot ambulance worker members at St George’s Hospital over proposed changes to their shift patterns.
If members at the South London hospital vote to strike, industrial action will take place in the New Year.
GMB says HATS, the private employer which runs the contract for patient transport services at St George’s Hospital, has ignored concerns raised by workers that these changes will have a significant impact on their pay, their hours and their work/life balance.
Helen O’Connor, GMB Regional Organiser, said:
“GMB has made every effort to engage with HATS around the proposed changes to shift rotas, and the company has completely ignored all of our reasonable attempts to discuss their plans.
“This is disappointing but unfortunately not surprising.
“HATS is trying to bully GMB members into accepting shift changes that will alter their hours, their pay and destroy the right of our members to have a family life.
“Equally, St Georges NHS Trust have an opportunity to take this contract back in-house as the tender is up for renewal, so as a union we are urging them to do so.
“GMB will not stand by and allow a private company which is making huge profits out of the NHS to erode the pay, terms and conditions of our hard-working members who are already on low wages.”
