Hospital porters strike called off at 11th hour

A strike by hospital porters who accused managers of imposing "diabolical" toilet break rules has been suspended following "last ditch talks", a union has said.

Staff at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) previously told the BBC they had to ask for permission to go to the toilet, with women having to request extra time if they had their period.

They were set to walk out on Thursday but Unite said the action was suspended "to allow hospital management to resolve the outstanding issues".

Joe Teape, chief operating officer at UHS, said they were "committed to working with portering representatives to resolve this dispute".

"Our porters are an essential part of the successful running of our organisation," he said.

"We are pleased that today’s planned industrial action has been postponed."

Chief people officer Steve Harris previously said he had commissioned a review into the culture within the department, and said porters were entitled to breaks.

"No-one in the organisation is required to essentially inform their supervisor or their manager when they're menstruating," he added.

Unite said more than 60 porters had been due to strike for 24 hours over workplace bullying and harassment.

"Following last minute talks at [conciliation service] Acas, Unite has agreed to suspend today’s strike action," said a spokesperson for the union.

"This was made as an act of good faith and to allow hospital management to resolve the outstanding issues that have created this dispute."

Unite said action planned on each Friday and Monday in December and January would go ahead as planned from 6 December if "hospital management fails to agree to take action to resolve the problems at the heart of the dispute".

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