WORKERS at Airedale Hospital have voted for strike action over a pay dispute.

Since December 2020, NHS workers employed by Airedale Hospital’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AGH Solutions (AGHS), have been in dispute over unequal pay.

The workers, who are members of GMB trade union, include porters, domestics responsible for cleaning wards and caterers.

A GMB spokesman said: “Workers who were transferred over from the Trust into AGHS in 2018 remain on the NHS “Agenda For Change” (AFC) contract, while many new starters, and indeed all staff (including those who were TUPED) that register on bank (i.e. overtime shifts), are paid on the lower AGHS rates, despite doing the same job.”

He said those doing the same job on lower pay did not feel valued and felt they were not being treated fairly.

He added: “GMB members are demanding alignment of all AGHS staff (including bank staff) with the NHS Pay rates, terms and conditions. AGHS has submitted three pay proposals, all far below NHS pay rates, and all three have been firmly rejected by GMB members.

GMB members have now voted in favour of strike action. If no agreement is reached, the strike will commence on July 19.

Joe Wheatley, local organiser, GMB K40 Airedale General Branch, said: “The demand for equal pay for equal work is fair, it is reasonable and it is right. Every day since March 2020, our members have put themselves at risk; at risk of getting infected and at risk of infecting their family. We clapped for them, we labelled them heroes and yet here in our community, some of our local heroes face the indignity of being treated less than; to be NHS workers, but not to be paid as NHS workers.

“We have reached the stage where members are being asked to consider industrial action because the Board of Directors of both AGHS and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have allowed us to reach this point. The Trust outsourced their responsibility to AGHS and in turn AGHS created a two-tier workforce that made it permissible to pay people different wages for the same work. We are simply demanding that this be corrected, that the Trust recognise its responsibility to these NHS heroes and AGHS end unfair wage practices.”

David Moss, Managing Director of AGH Solutions, said: “Since our establishment in 2018 we have grown significantly and created a successful business, providing essential services to Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.  We offer very competitive terms and conditions, which attract people to work for us, and we invest significantly in staff training and equipment. We’ve brought in house over 100 employees from outsourced providers, improving pay and conditions and a move away from the minimum wage for these individuals. 

“While some of our staff are on different terms and conditions as a result of TUPE regulations, we believe we treat all our staff fairly and they are rewarded for the work they do.  We have worked hard to improve pay for our lowest paid workers.  Staff on our AGHS terms and conditions benefit from excellent employment opportunities at competitive rates of pay, including a 15% pay increase over the last three years.  Our pay proposal for employees on AGHS terms and conditions includes additional leave and new enhancements for night shift work, and is a very competitive offer, particularly when compared to the current NHS proposal of a 1% rise for people on Agenda for Change.

“I remain hopeful that we can work with the GMB to resolve this before July 19.”