Porters, domestics, catering and security staff will walk out over the fact they get ‘worse terms and conditions than colleagues' working at the same hospital, GMB says.
The workers have been outsourced to AGH Solutions (AGHS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.
GMB claims AGHS uses its subsidiary status to not honour the NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions, including NHS pensions, sick pay rates, annual leave and Sunday working enhancements.
The union says more than 90% of those who voted said they were ready to take industrial action.
GMB will now meet with its members to discuss strike dates.
Joe Wheatley, GMB organiser, said: ‘These workers are absolutely vital for Airedale hospital to operate safely. It's outrageous that they are treated like second-class citizens.
‘These workers will walk out with heavy hearts - Airedale and AGHS must now recognise how important they are and give them the same pay, terms and conditions as the rest of the workforce.'
In response, Dennis Kentrop, managing director of AGH Solutions, said: ‘We are very proud to work for and with the NHS and Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, but we are in essence a private company with different terms and conditions from the NHS.
‘We do have some employees on protected NHS Agenda for Change terms and conditions as a result of them being transferred to AGHS when it was established. The majority of staff members are on AGH Solutions terms and conditions. It is not uncommon to have different terms and conditions in companies where staff transfer in with protection.
‘I am clear that every AGH Solutions employee is valued. This is why we have significantly improved our pay, terms and conditions offer to colleagues on AGHS terms and conditions, including enhanced payments, increased annual leave and competitive pension contributions. We have also matched the recent NHS pay award for all of our employees.
‘We will continue to work with the GMB in good faith to try to resolve this matter, to avoid disruption to patient care.'
