15/09/2006

Unison announce NHS strike date

NHS workers will walk out next week in a bitter row over privatisation.

The health service union Unison have announced hundreds of workers in the agency NHS Logistics will walk out for 24 hours.

The protest, over the sell-off of the network to German firm DHL, could lead to English hospitals running short of vital equipment.

A second 24-hour strike is also planned, the date of which will be announced early next week. Around 900 staff were balloted by Unison and of the 66 percent who voted, 74 percent backed a strike.

NHS Logistics supplies around 50,000 lines of products, including bedpans, latex gloves, syringes, bandages, medical equipment and food.

The strike decision was taken at a meeting held on Friday afternoon in Alfreton, Derbyshire - the site of one of the agency's five depots.

The Department of Health said most hospitals also had their own supply and delivery arrangements and would be able to 'cope with demand'.

A spokesman said: "The NHS used around 500,000 different products such as catering supplies, office equipment and medical supplies but only around 51,000 of these products are provided by NHS Logistics.

"We have put detailed contingency plans in place to ensure minimum disruption to NHS services in the event of industrial action."

The TUC conference has backed a motion to support any public sector union taking industrial action to defend jobs and services.

(DS)

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