Airedale staff met Wes Streeting at the TUC congress in Brighton this week to tell him about the two-tier system at the trust that has left them feeling like ‘second class citizens’.
Porters, domestics, catering and security staff at the hospital are employed by AGH Solutions (AGHS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, which does not honour NHS terms and conditions, including NHS pensions, sick pay rates, annual leave and Sunday working enhancements.
More than 150 Airedale Hospital workers will go on strike from 12 - 15 September as part of the same dispute.
The Health Secretary listened to workers concerns and promised to contact the trust to discuss a way forward.
Sandra Harrison, Airedale Hospital Worker, said:
“I’ve never taken strike action before in my life – but my friends and colleagues at Airedale are desperate.
“I told the Health Secretary what it’s like for us, being treated like second class citizens.
“In fairness he listened to everything I had to say and promised to contact the trust to try and find a way forward.”
