HOSPITAL porters are expected to have voted in favour of industrial action yesterday in a ballot over proposed changes to their jobs.

Unison said the John Radcliffe Hospital workers are in dispute with private health company Carillion over plans to cut staff and wages, and change shift patterns.

About 70 porters at the Headington hospital could be affected by the changes and it is understood 57 of the staff voted in yesterday’s ballot, with the result expected on Monday.

A source said initial indications showed that there was an overwhelming yes vote for industrial action.

One worker, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Oxford Mail the changes would do a lot of damage to people’s lives, with shift changes impacting on their work/life balance.

Ian McKendrick, Unison health branch communications officer, said the dispute was about making some of the lowest-paid staff in the NHS work harder.

He added: “Unison doesn’t want to see a crisis in our hospitals as a result of Carillon’s drive to maximise its profits.”

Mr McKendrick said that the private health company plans to cut three supervisor roles and make changes to shift patterns.

Unison said that porters at the John Radcliffe were paid weekly at a starting rate of £7.72 per hour – a figure below the £8.69 per hour classed as Oxford City Council’s living wage. The source at the JR said: “I feel I struggle at the moment so normally I would do some overtime on a weekend. Most of us are struggling.

“We just want that bit of flexibility we have at the moment so we can plan our days off and get the balance right.”

Chairwoman of Oxford health group Patient Voice Jacquie Pearce-Gervis said if the porters decided to take industrial action, hospital services would be affected “considerably”.

She added: “Hospitals rely heavily on porters and if they were to go on strike, that would have a considerable impact. I hope that the patients’ treatment and wellbeing won’t be affected.”

Tony Henderson, a spokesman for Carillion, said the planned changes were to “improve the efficiency” of portering services and improve patient care – but did not say how they would.

He added that they were disappointed that Unison chose to ballot for industrial action rather than engage in “meaningful discussions”. He said: “We would urge the union to work with us to find a mutually acceptable solution.”