Staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have secured a deal to give them fairer terms and conditions to bring them in line with their colleagues, says UNISON today (Thursday).
Many cleaners, caterers, porters and security staff at the trust are employed by a subsidiary company, owned by the trust, and have seen their wages and conditions steadily slip behind NHS rates.
But a new agreement, negotiated by UNISON, ensures they will receive the same pay and benefits as people they work alongside.
The workers were transferred to the firm, called NTH Solutions. At that time, staff were moved from the NHS to the new company – commonly known as a “subco” – with their existing terms and conditions protected. But new staff were subsequently hired on inferior contracts, with lower unsocial hours payments, reduced leave and no access to the NHS Pension Scheme.
This created an unfair “two-tier” workforce, with staff carrying out the same roles side by side but on different contracts, UNISON says.
Staff began campaigning in August 2025 to end the inequality and secure NHS terms and conditions for all employees, including access to the pension scheme.
After mounting pressure, the trust agreed to negotiate with the union.
As a result, the trust has agreed to move all NTH Solutions employees to the same conditions as NHS staff.
In a consultation that closed yesterday, NTH Solutions workers voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal.
UNISON Northern regional secretary Clare Williams said: “This is a fantastic result for staff who’ve spent years keeping NHS services running across Teesside.
“They stood together, made their voices heard, and have now won the fairness and recognition they deserve.
“These workers keep hospitals safe, clean and functioning every day and their contribution is vital. It’s only right they’re treated the same way as their colleagues at the trust.
“This agreement ends an unnecessary divide and ensures everyone doing vital NHS work is treated with the dignity and respect they’ve earned.”
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