Southampton Hospital porters secure landmark agreement to end alleged bullying dispute

Planned strike action by porters employed at Southampton General Hospital has been suspended.

The Unite Union says the workers have accepted wide-ranging proposals to end what it claims were 'issues of bullying and harassment.'

It says the hospital has agreed to introduce a 67-point plan.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a tremendously important victory for a group of low paid workers who had been systemically mistreated by management.

"By being prepared to stand up and be counted, while willing to take industrial action, the porters have ensured a dramatic improvement in their working conditions. Their bravery should be applauded.”

Unite regional officer Kate Attwooll said: “Porters are the lifeblood of the NHS, putting patients first and connecting with compassion and care on a daily basis.

"This is a group of amazing human beings and they deserve to feel safe and valued at work. This has been an extremely challenging and complex dispute, uncovering over a decade of abuse and misconduct by management.

"Unite members have stood together and secured firm commitments from management on a landmark deal covering multiple areas of improvement for staff.

“Unite will ensure that every single one of Southampton hospital’s promises is upheld and acted upon.

"Unite takes a zero-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment in the workplace and we will make certain that it is never allowed to take root at the hospital again. Now is the time for management to deliver.”

A spokesperson for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Following constructive discussions with UNITE, porters at UHS have cancelled the planned industrial action in December and January.

“With ACAS support, an agreement has been reached on a range of actions aimed at significantly improving the experience of our portering staff.

“Porters play a vital role in the safe operation of our services and patient care. UHS is committed to collaborating with UNITE to implement the mutually agreed actions as a priority, and to ensuring porters feel valued and included across the organisation.”

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