Members of GMB, the union for the NHS, have submitted a grievance against their employer in opposition to plans to outsource their department. [1]
The union members work within the Slough Community Diagnostic Centre at Wexham Park Hospital, which is run by Frimley Park NHS Foundation Trust.
The same trust attempted to privatise all non-clinical services into a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary (WOS) in 2018, but these plans were shelved after a campaign of industrial action carried out by GMB members.
The workers have laid out in their communications that there is a legitimate business case against privatisation [2] and that they reserve the right to ask their union to ballot them for industrial action.
Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser said:
“We’ve been here before with Frimley Health Foundation Trust, where they tried to outsource all non-clinical services so they could pay some directors a higher wage.
“GMB members stopped those plans getting off the ground and these members are determined to remain in the NHS family as well.
“I understand the Chief Executive has only been in post for a week or so, so hopefully he can start his tenure by created a sensible working relationship with the main union within FHFT.
“If the employer does not listen to the concerns outlined by staff in the grievance, our members have proved before that they are prepared to take action to show their strength of feeling.”
