STAFF at a specialised unit responsible for the cleaning of surgical instruments at Altnagelvin Hospital have unanimously voted in support of industrial action.
The Hygiene Sterilisation and Disinfection Unit (HSDU) has thirteen employees who prepare all equipment for use in the Londonderry hospital's operating theatres and are contracted to undertake work for the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
It is under
stood around 80 percent of the unit's workforce - members of the GMB trade union - have now voted to take industrial action after negotiations with management broke down.
Members who contacted the Sentinel last night said management had been dismissive of staff grievances.
Staff members told the Sentinel increases in pay -agreed under the NHS wide Agenda for Change programme - have not bee implemented within the HSDU.
Concerns also centre on an increase in workload and responsibility at a time when staff numbers have been cut.
One GMB member told the Sentinel staff had been backed into a corner.
"Management are aware of all the issues but to date have been dismissive of our concerns. Industrial action is the last thing we want to do but staff have been balloted and have voted unanimously to take the action."
Should staff proceed with industrial action, it could see the cancellation of all operating theatre activity at the Londonderry hospital. The Sentinel understands no date has been fixed for the threatened action but it could happen as early as next week.
A spokesperson from the Western Health and Social Care Trust commented," The Western Trust have not yet been informed of any impending industrial action and will be contacting the associated Unions in regard to this in due course."
The full article contains 297 words and appears in Londonderry Sentinel newspaper.
