Workers at mental health units across Birmingham and Solihull are to go on strike.
A number of the 150 employees at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said they will strike against a plan which will see them moved from the NHS to working for a wholly-owned subsidiary called Summerhill Services from July 1.
Some of the workers who are members of Unite and Unison - including managers, porters, housekeepers, domestic assistants and maintenance staff - will strike in protest against a change which they say will mean they are no longer employed by the NHS .
They are angry they are being moved to the private sector - which they fear will put their jobs at risk.
The NHS Trust has refuted suggestions the move will have an impact on jobs.
Staff who are members of the unions Unite and Unison will strike on June 24, 25 and 26.
Both unions have waged an extensive campaign against wholly-owned subsidiaries, claiming they could lead to job losses.
Unison said Summerhill Services was set up by the trust to cut costs by taking advantage of a tax loophole.
It doesn’t have to honour future NHS pay agreements, enabling it to alter the pay and conditions of staff and employ new people on inferior terms, the union claims.
According to Unison, Summerhill Services has refused to guarantee that the workers’ existing contracts will be safeguarded - a claim the trust has strongly denied.
Unison branch secretary, Andy Chaffer, said: “Taking strike action is not an easy decision for any of us, but we need to stand up for our jobs and our patients.
"The staff are very angry at this proposal as they are proud to be NHS workers and want to remain part of a service they love."
Unite said these new wholly-owned subsidiaries were a way of avoiding paying VAT.
Unite's regional officer, Frank Keogh, said: "This unpalatable transfer will strip our members of their status as NHS employees.
"It is a part of the accelerating back door privatisation of the health service. Ultimately it will lead to the salami slicing of patient services."
The staff will down tools from 7.30am on June 24 until just before midnight on June 26.
Mental Health
A spokeswoman for Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said it was aware of the planned strikes.
"Summerhill Services Ltd was established in 2012 and has operated effectively and efficiently with little issue over the past seven years," she said.
"It remains part of the NHS family and accountable to the Trust board.
"Summerhill already owns and provides services for three of the five largest Trust sites and employs more than 100 staff following a number of successful previous TUPE transfers.
“Over the past seven years, no staff transferred from the Trust to Summerhill have had their terms and conditions changed and none will have as a result of this transfer.
"Staff transferring remain on national Agenda for Change terms and conditions and are able to retain NHS Pension Scheme membership.
"None of the previous TUPE transfers over the last seven years have led to job losses, and none are planned as a result of this transfer."
She said the decision to transfer the remainder of staff to Summerhill was not taken lightly, but it would lead to savings of around £200,00 a year, thus safeguarding future jobs.
She said they had "robust" contingency plans in place to minimise the impact on patients.
