Reshuffle plan protest held at same time as hospital meeting

Members of Unison, in conjunction with Wigan And Leigh Trades Council, gathered at the Wigan Infirmary site this morning to have their voices heard.

Their demonstration coincided with the monthly meeting of Wrightington, Wigan And Leigh NHS Foundation Trust's board.

It was organised to protest against plans to move staff to a controversial new firm named WWL Solutions.

Health bosses want to move around 900 staff from the borough’s hospitals, including porters, cleaners, caterers, switchboard operators, transport employees, procurers and those working in linen services and the medical electronics and loan store.

A massive 82 per cent of those balloted by trade union Unison said no to the transfer to the subsidiary company, paving the way for work to begin on a formal ballot for industrial action.

The idea has been condemned by leading trade unionists and both MPs and councillors.