Strike averted at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust

Unison and Unite have signed an agreement with trust bosses to resolve the pay and jobs dispute.

Staff had already taken part in nine days of strikes at Mid Yorkshire, which runs Pinderfields, Pontefract and Dewsbury Hospitals.

The action was taken against redundancies and pay cuts of up to £2,800 for some admin and clerical staff.

But an improved offer of up to three years pay protection for affected staff and the opportunity to keep salaries under review has now been accepted.

Unison’s Adrian O’Malley, who signed the agreement this afternoon, said: “Our members have overwhelmingly endorsed the agreement we’ve come to.”

Graham Briggs, Mid Yorkshire’s HR director, said an enhanced pay protection policy had been negotiated between the two sides.

Staff already affected by downbanding of salaries would now get pay protection of up to three years.

Those facing pay cuts this financial year would get two years and staff whose salaries will be cut after April 1 next year will get 18 months pay protection.

Mr Briggs said: “I am delighted that we have come to an agreement which moves on from the dispute that we have had over past few months.”

Jim Bell, Unison’s regional organiser, said: “The industrial action undertaken by our members has won benefits but we regret that it was necessary in the first place.

“We look forward to forming a partnership arrangement with the trust, but this must be a partnership of equals.”