NHS lorry drivers in West Yorkshire to vote on strike action after rejecting 4% pay rise
The lorry drivers are being balloted for strike action
West Yorkshire drivers are among hundreds of NHS supply-chain workers that could take strike action.
Workers delivering essential supplies to hospitals across the UK have rejected a 4% pay increase and are now voting on industrial action, Unite has announced.
Almost 200 HGV and other vehicle drivers, employed by logistics firm GXO to deliver for the NHS supply chain, are being balloted for strike action.
The workers, including those based at GXO's Normanton site, deliver general equipment and supplies to hospitals nationwide.
The ballot, organised by the Unite union, closes on September 17. Drivers at several sites across England, including Derbyshire, Somerset, West Yorkshire, Kent, Warwickshire, Suffolk, and Newcastle, are participating.
Unite said the workers had rejected GXO's four per cent offer by a near-unanimous margin.
The union says the drivers have inferior terms and conditions compared with NHS contracts, including a much lower pension.
GXO operates the NHS supply chain contract for Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL), which is wholly owned by NHS England.
According to Unite, GXO has said the pay offer cannot be increased because it is already higher than the increase offered to NHS workers.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “GXO and SCCL’s offer was met with a near unanimous rejection by workers. It must be improved. Unite is backing these workers all the way in their fight for a deal that reflects their hard work and dedication.”
The union has warned that strike action could cause disruption to NHS supply chains.
Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone said: “GXO and SCCL are forcing these workers towards industrial action. They will bear responsibility for any disruption caused to NHS supplies. Strike action can be avoided, but that will require an acceptable offer being put forward.”
A GXO Spokesperson said: “Unite has notified us that it intends to ballot certain driver colleagues working on the NHS Supply Chain contract.
"We remain committed to constructive discussions with union representatives and ACAS and have made a fair and competitive pay offer to our colleagues.
“The ballot process is ongoing and no industrial action has been confirmed. Should industrial action be confirmed, we have plans in place to mitigate any potential disruption and maintain continuity of service.”