Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS staff vote to go on strike

The trust runs hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract

Staff at a hospital trust in West Yorkshire have voted to take strike action after 74 employees were sent redundancy letters.

The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has to save £24m by April but would still end the year with a £26m deficit.

The trust, which runs hospitals in Wakefield, Dewsbury and Pontefract, said it could not rule out making compulsory redundancies.

Union Unison said the date of strike action would be announced next week.

Administrative and clerical staff, including medical secretaries and receptionists, were balloted by the union, which said 88% voted in favour of strike action and 96% voted in favour of action short of a strike.

Adrian O'Malley, Unison branch secretary, said: "This vote shows the anger our members are feeling at losing so many jobs and taking pay cuts."

Graham Briggs, director of human resources at the trust, said: "We are disappointed with this decision but we also respect the right of individuals to take part in any action.

"We will now work with Unison and put plans in place to ensure that patient care is not compromised during any action to be taken."