Over 150 ward environment porters employed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have been told they could lose their jobs, UNISON says today (Thursday).
The staff work in a hybrid porter/housekeeper role, solely dealing with patients. This includes moving patients between wards and departments, as well as cleaning equipment and stocking up essential medical supplies.
The number of roles almost doubled during the pandemic, but the trust says funding has now ended, meaning around 60 full time positions could go.
UNISON says the trust was proposing to axe the jobs without a formal consultation about the redundancies with staff and their unions.
It was only when UNISON intervened that the trust paused its consultation to issue a S188 notice* about the proposed job cuts.
UNISON also understands there is currently no voluntary redundancy scheme in place for the affected porters.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Gary Cleaver said: “These porters worked hard during the pandemic to care for the most vulnerable. Yet they are now facing the very real possibility losing their jobs during a cost-of-living crisis. With huge pressure on the NHS, the roles under threat are as essential as ever.
“The government says it’s committed to funding the health service, yet the withdrawal of funding for these roles says the complete opposite.
“Actions speak louder than words. The past 13 years show how little the current government cares about the NHS. This is yet another example of that.
“UNISON is completely opposed to any compulsory redundancies in the NHS and will do everything to defend staff against the threat.”
