A UNION contesting Airedale NHS Foundation Trust's decision to form a new company to run some hospital services warns these changes are leaving temporary workers in limbo.

GMB, Britain's General Union, which represents thousands of NHS workers across the UK, has promised to continue its fight, along with its sister unions Unite and Unison, to oppose the proposal of the transfer of staff at Airedale NHS Trust to a new company which will take over the running of some trust services.

And GMB says it is particularly concerned about the plight of so-called "bank staff", who are normally deployed by the foundation trust to cover short term temporary gaps in staffing.

Gary Baker, GMB regional organiser, said: "We're consulting with members on the proposal to outsource them to this new company, but the message from staff is clear. They are NHS workers and want to remain so.

"Many of the staff affected have been employed by the trust for years. That service with the NHS is going to be ripped away. There is a lot of mistrust, and once again it's the workers that are having to pay the price.

"We've heard that bank staff (zero hours) are being asked to sign letters to say they will work for this new company, but with no idea of what their terms and conditions will be.

"I believe vacancies are not being filled until after the transfer to save money on wages and pensions, which in time will create pension poverty – it's just wrong.

"We've asked the trust for information on how many staff are on bank contracts, with a view to them offering permanent jobs to staff where possible, but to date we have still not had a reply.

"The only sensible thing the trust can do is halt the transfer, stop rushing things through and enter into meaningful consultation."

A spokesman for Airedale responded: “The decision to establish a wholly owned subsidiary company to run estates, facilities and procurement services for the trust was taken by the trust's board in October 2017.

"The trust consulted staff and the unions in the run up to this decision, and has been inviting the unions to take part in discussions about the transferring staff, and inputting into the employment terms of new starters, including bank staff.

“The unions have now agreed to meet with representatives of the trust to try and resolve the dispute, and it is our intention to deal with any issues in relation to transferring staff as part of those discussions.”