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NHS supply chain workers to strike
Page 6
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Strike action looms following a vote against the planned privatisation of NHS Logistics. Bridget Carter and Dominic Perry report.
NHS SUPPLY CHAIN staff have voted for strike action in protest at the privatisation of the service, Last week DHL was awarded a f.1.6bn contract to manage logistics for the NHS, with 1,700 employees from NHS Logistics and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency transferring to the German firm from 1 October.This is expected to save the NHS LI hn over the next 10 years.
However, 74% of the 800 staff balloted by their union, Unison, have voted to strike. The union is now threatening crippling disruption to hospitals which could be forced to cancel operations because of equipment shortages, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis says: "These are not trouble-makers, but hard-working public service workers who have never taken strike action before, making a stand to protect their service and protect our NHS.
"NHS Logistics is an awardwinning service and it makes no sense to sell it off to German parcels company OHL.
Unison is also calling for a judicial review of the deal, claiming the way it was awarded was anti-competitive. Spokeswoman Anne Mitchell says that if the union wins, the award of the contract to DI-IL would he deemed unlawful.
-The original notice that appeared in the European Journal for the contract was offering1720m and the final contract turned out to be £1.6bn,she explains. "We're saying this has chucked out other potential bidders."
A spokesperson for the NHS refutes Unison's allegation and plays down fears of disruption.saying most hospitals have their own supply arrangements in place.
NHS Logistics already works in partnership with logistics firm TNT, and DELL operates a depot in Bridgwater, Somerset. Another five depots, at Normanton, Runcorn, Maidstone, Bury St Edmunds and Alfreton, are operated in-house.