NHS supply lorry drivers will stage a series of strikes in October and November in a dispute over pay, the union Unite announced. Drivers employed by GXO, which holds the NHS supply chain contract for Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL), will walk out for five separate periods.
The strikes are scheduled for October 13-15, 20-22, 27-29, and November 3-5 and 10-12. The drivers, based in Tyne and Wear, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Warwickshire, and Suffolk, are employed by GXO, a company wholly owned by NHS England.
Unite stated that its members rejected a 4% pay increase offered by GXO. "There is still time for strike action to be avoided but that will require a deal our members can accept," said Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone. He described the drivers as "dedicated workers" and asserted that GXO had not presented a reasonable offer.
GXO and NHS Supply Chain acknowledged being aware of the vote in favor of industrial action. A spokesperson for GXO said the company believes the 4% pay offer is fair and stated, "Patient care remains of paramount importance, and we remain focused on providing a safe and effective operation throughout this period."
NHS supply drivers are responsible for delivering essential medical equipment and supplies to hospitals across England. These items include bandages, dressings, gowns, gloves, and needles. The depots affected by the strike action are located in Alfreton (Derbyshire), Bridgwater (Somerset), Normanton (West Yorkshire), Maidstone (Kent), Rugby (Warwickshire), Bury St Edmonds (Suffolk), and Washington (Tyne and Wear).
NHS Supply Chain and GXO have indicated that they have implemented robust contingency plans to minimize any potential disruption caused by the strikes.