GMB members at Frimley Health Trust vote in support of strike action
“We urge the Trust to think again about this unnecessary step and to instead work with the GMB Union and its members to make improvements and any efficiencies whilst keeping all services and jobs in house”, says GMB Southern
GMB members working for Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust are one step closer to full industrial action after having voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action in a consultative ballot to fight the Trust’s plans to transfer non clinical NHS workers out of the NHS and into the private sector through a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (WOS).
Today's result based on a ballot return of 95.97% shows members voting strongly in favour of both action up to and including strike action, in addition to action up to but short of strike action.
- Action including Strike Action — 99.16%
- Action short of Strike Action — 100%
This result, which in itself does not constitute a direct strike ballot gives a very strong indication though of the real anger staff feel for the Trust’s plans, means that GMB have completed all the union’s regional requirements and can seek authorisation to engage the ERS to carry out a full industrial ballot to complete all legal requirements needed for members to take lawful industrial action.
GMB will now seek to speak to the other unions involved in the dispute at the Trust to check the willingness, preparation and status of their own ballot processes and outcomes, before deciding through its workplace industrial action committee on the next steps.
Asia Allison GMB Regional Organiser said: "What a fantastic result by GMB members, they've certainly stood up to be counted, and why wouldn't they have?
"Hard-working, dedicated and committed to the NHS and its patients, they suddenly found that their employer would rather avoid tax off their labours, dump them into the private sector leaving them at the mercy of predatory takeover NHS profiteers, rather than directly caring for the carers and others under the NHS umbrella.
"I will be talking to the other Unions at the Trust just as soon as I can, checking as to the likelihood of their either undertaking a consultative and / or industrial ballot and to check if they wish to co-ordinate with GMB any actions members of staff may choose to take over the coming months, should members support doing so during the ERS stage.
"I will be delivering the message that we are of course stronger if we all fight together, but that GMB will carry out the wishes of its members to Stop The WOS regardless of the involvement of others if we have to though.
"I urge the Trust to think again about this unnecessary step and to instead work with the GMB Union and its members to make improvements and any efficiencies whilst keeping all services and jobs in house.
"GMB will lobby politically to halt VAT being applied to the NHS rather than for either the services they provide and materials they use rather see NHS Trust simply join the private sector in exploiting any tax loop holes."
Contact: Asia Allison 07813 541930 or Gary Palmer 07552 165950 or GMB Southern Press Office 07970 114762
