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NHS Tayside porters strike ends as pay offer accepted NHS Tayside porters strike ends as pay offer accepted
(about 5 hours later)
A long-running strike by NHS Tayside staff has come to an end after union members accepted a "compromise" offer of increased wages.A long-running strike by NHS Tayside staff has come to an end after union members accepted a "compromise" offer of increased wages.
Porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria hospitals have been on continuous strike since 7 April in a dispute over pay grades stretching back 10 years.Porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria hospitals have been on continuous strike since 7 April in a dispute over pay grades stretching back 10 years.
Members of the Unite union voted to accept a deal which will see them moved to a new pay bracket.Members of the Unite union voted to accept a deal which will see them moved to a new pay bracket.
NHS Tayside said it was "looking forward to welcoming our porters back".NHS Tayside said it was "looking forward to welcoming our porters back".
Chief executive Lesley McLay said she was "very pleased" that all porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria would be returning to work.Chief executive Lesley McLay said she was "very pleased" that all porters at Ninewells and Royal Victoria would be returning to work.
She said: "The safe and effective delivery of care to our patients has always been our priority throughout this dispute.She said: "The safe and effective delivery of care to our patients has always been our priority throughout this dispute.
"Staff helpers have made a remarkable contribution in keeping our patients safe and ensuring they received all the treatments and diagnostics they required during this action and we remain very grateful to them."Staff helpers have made a remarkable contribution in keeping our patients safe and ensuring they received all the treatments and diagnostics they required during this action and we remain very grateful to them.
"We look forward to welcoming our porters back into our hospitals.""We look forward to welcoming our porters back into our hospitals."
Patient safetyPatient safety
The industrial action began with a series of one-day strikes in March, before more than 100 staff downed tools continuously in April.The industrial action began with a series of one-day strikes in March, before more than 100 staff downed tools continuously in April.
Contingency plans were put in place to make sure patients were not affected, with staff from other parts of the hospitals drafted in to cover the duties of the porters.Contingency plans were put in place to make sure patients were not affected, with staff from other parts of the hospitals drafted in to cover the duties of the porters.
The board's vice-chairman Doug Cross said: "Patient safety has always been our overriding consideration throughout this dispute.The board's vice-chairman Doug Cross said: "Patient safety has always been our overriding consideration throughout this dispute.
"We will always put our patients first and it is because of this that Tayside NHS Board has worked so hard to reach a compromise. This agreement sees our porters return to the workplace and ensure our services to support patient care and treatment can return to normal."We will always put our patients first and it is because of this that Tayside NHS Board has worked so hard to reach a compromise. This agreement sees our porters return to the workplace and ensure our services to support patient care and treatment can return to normal.
"Both NHS Tayside and Unite are now working together to progress the development of our portering staff and supporting them, and all our other staff members, as the porters return to work.""Both NHS Tayside and Unite are now working together to progress the development of our portering staff and supporting them, and all our other staff members, as the porters return to work."
Health Secretary Shona Robison said: "I welcome the outcome of today's ballot, and the return of the porters to work in Tayside. It is very encouraging that following the STAC process, the health board and Unite have been able to put in place a final agreement which has allowed the dispute to come to an end.
"Throughout this time patient safety within the hospital has been of paramount importance, with the health board working hard to keep patient disruptions to a minimum. The conclusion of these matters is in the best interest of patients and I am very pleased to see both parties reach this end point."