CROWDS gathered outside one of the region’s largest hospitals today (THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25) to protest at planned controversial changes to sick pay for hospital workers.

The protest, held outside the University Hospital of North Tees, was held in support of more than 5,400 members of staff employed by the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust who will be affected by proposed changes in the terms and conditions of their employment.

Currently, staff who are off sick during unsocial hours receive extra payments as part of their regular pay. The trust, which is trying to make £40m of savings, plan to scrap the enhanced payments.

It says that there are no plans to cut jobs, but unions have claimed that the trust plans to dismiss the workers and re-employ them under terms and conditions that reflect the localised changes in policy. They fear anyone who refuses to accept the changes could lose their job.

Keir Howe, Regional Organiser for the GMB union, said: "It is appalling that the trust are intending to dismiss then re-engage over 5,000 employees in an attempt to change their terms and conditions.

"This attack upon employees’ terms will see many lose pay and will reduce pensions, maternity pay and will discriminate against the disabled."

Local government worker Nina Weatherill, from Hartlepool, was at the protest. She said: “This is another attack on public services and I am concerned that if they succeed in attacking this, other terms and conditions for workers could be attacked."

Alan Docherty, 62, is a maintenance worker at the hospital. He said: “This attack on pay and conditions is the start of a process that could be carried out across health services. People need to speak out.”