\n Healthcare staff at three NHS trusts in Dorset have backed plans that could see widespread disruption across the region, the union has said.\n<\/p>\n
\n An overwhelming majority (98 per cent) of\u00a0health\u00a0workers, including porters and cleaners, say they want to vote for strike action in a row over moves to shift 1,700 staff from the NHS to an external company.\n<\/p>\n
\n The NHS foundation trusts \u2013 Dorset HealthCare University, Dorset County Hospital, and University Hospitals Dorset \u2013 want to move the mainly low-paid support workers to a wholly owned subsidiary company, also known as a subco.\n<\/p>\n
\n UNISON – a trade union representing\u00a0staff who provide public services in the public and private sector –\u00a0said the controversial plan goes against government promises to bring employees back into the NHS, rather than outsource them.\n<\/p>\n
\n Ahead of the election, Labour said it would \u201cbring about the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n The staff affected are currently employed at hospitals across Dorset including at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester, Royal Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and Weymouth.\n<\/p>\n
\n The trade union\u00a0says these workers fear they\u2019ll receive inferior pay and conditions, and be unable to access career opportunities available to NHS employees if they\u2019re contracted out to an external operator.\n<\/p>\n
\n More than 1,000 NHS staff voiced their concerns over the plans in May\u00a0<\/a>at a protest outside of Dorset County Hospital.\n<\/p>\n \n Staff held the lunchtime protest and highlighted their fears over the security of their\u00a0pay,\u00a0pension<\/a>\u00a0and job security.\n<\/p>\n