Barking Havering Redbridge NHS Pathology Staff Strike Feb 4-6 

Key Points

• Pathology and clinical engineering staff at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust are scheduled to strike on 4, 5, and 6 February.
• Pathology staff are protesting against plans to introduce a new shift system without meaningful consultation, leading to expected losses in earnings.
• Pay protection for staff affected by working arrangement changes has been reduced from five years to two years, further impacting financial security.
• Pathology staff have faced financial losses due to the trust’s failure to reimburse mileage expenses and late-night taxi travel as per local agreements, according to Unite the union.
• The trust has not adequately addressed substantiated claims of bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the pathology department, despite an employment tribunal ruling, allowing such behaviours to persist.
• Clinical engineering staff oppose the outsourcing of their department and the proposed transfer of roles to Siemens Healthineers, arguing it would erode terms and conditions without benefiting staff or patients.
• Unite general secretary Sharon Graham stated that industrial relations at the trust have collapsed and pledged full union support for the strike action.
• Unite regional officer Sujata Virdee described staff as dedicated but forced into action due to poor treatment by the trust, blaming leadership for any disruption.
• The trust’s director of workforce, Alan Wishart, expressed disappointment, noting recent detailed discussions with Unite and denying any new shift system or pay reductions have been implemented.
• The trust acknowledges long-standing issues in pathology and has offered suggestions for negotiation to avoid strike action.
• Industrial action could intensify if the dispute remains unresolved.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge (East London Times) January 28, 2026 – Pathology and clinical engineering staff at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust are set to strike on 4, 5, and 6 February over disputes involving shift changes, pay protection, expense reimbursements, workplace bullying, and proposed outsourcing. Unite the union, representing the workers, cites a collapse in industrial relations, while the trust insists on ongoing constructive dialogue and denies key union claims. This action threatens disruptions to hospital services unless negotiations succeed.

Why Are Pathology Staff Striking Over Shift Changes?

Pathology staff at the trust are taking industrial action primarily due to plans to introduce a new shift system without meaningful consultation, which Unite the union warns will result in earnings losses for staff. As detailed in the union’s announcement, this move exacerbates financial pressures already faced by workers. Unite the union says that pay protection, previously offered for five years during changes to working arrangements, has now been cut to just two years, severely undermining staff financial security.

Furthermore, pathology staff have endured ongoing financial losses stemming from the trust’s failure to reimburse mileage expenses and late-night taxi travel in line with established local agreements. Unite the union highlights these issues as symptomatic of broader mismanagement. The union adds that these unreimbursed costs have compounded the hardship for dedicated frontline workers.

Compounding these grievances, pathology staff are striking over the trust’s refusal to address substantiated claims of bullying, harassment, and discrimination within the department. Even after an employment tribunal upheld these allegations, the trust has failed to act decisively, allowing such toxic behaviours to continue unchecked, according to Unite the union.

What Is the Dispute in Clinical Engineering?

In the clinical engineering department, staff are vehemently opposing the outsourcing of their roles and the proposed transfer to Siemens Healthineers. Unite the union contends that this privatisation plan would erode hard-won terms and conditions, offering no tangible benefits to either staff or patients. The union argues that such a move prioritises cost-cutting over service quality and worker welfare.

Unite the union emphasises that clinical engineering staff view the outsourcing as a direct attack on their job security and professional standards. The proposed transfer to a private provider like Siemens Healthineers is seen as a risky experiment that could compromise patient safety through diminished expertise and accountability. No specific timeline for the outsourcing has been detailed in the union’s statements, but the threat alone has galvanised opposition.

Who Are the Key Voices Leading the Strike Call?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has been outspoken in her condemnation of the trust’s actions. Sharon Graham said: ‘Industrial relations at the trust have collapsed. Unite will not tolerate our members being bullied or having their jobs, pay and conditions being attacked. These workers have their union’s total support in taking strike action.’

Complementing this, Unite regional officer Sujata Virdee underscored the staff’s commitment despite the circumstances. Sujata Virdee added: ‘Our members are totally dedicated to their jobs but have been forced into taking strike action because of the appalling way they are being treated by the trust. ‘Any disruption that will be caused is entirely the fault of the trust’s leadership. The only way this dispute will be resolved is when the trust rows back on its attacks and puts forward a solution that our members can accept.’

These statements from Sharon Graham and Sujata Virdee reflect Unite’s firm stance, positioning the union as a staunch defender of its members’ rights amid what it describes as aggressive management tactics.

How Has the NHS Trust Responded to the Strike Threat?

Alan Wishart, director of workforce at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, has directly addressed the union’s allegations. Alan Wishart said: ‘We’re disappointed Unite are taking industrial action as we’ve had detailed discussions with their representatives in recent weeks and we’re keen to continue this constructive dialogue. We also want to make clear that no new shift system has been introduced and no staff have seen their pay reduced as a result.’

Alan Wishart further acknowledged challenges in pathology while outlining remedial efforts. Alan Wishart continued: ‘We accept there are long-standing issues that need to be resolved in pathology and we have worked hard to do so. ‘As part of our ongoing response, and to address Unite’s concerns, we have offered a number of suggestions which we believe are the basis for further negotiation rather than strike action.’

The trust’s position, as articulated by Alan Wishart, stresses a commitment to dialogue and refutes immediate pay or shift impositions, framing the dispute as resolvable through negotiation rather than confrontation.

When and How Will the Strike Action Unfold?

The planned strike dates are 4, 5, and 6 February, marking a coordinated walkout by pathology and clinical engineering staff. Unite the union has warned that industrial action will intensify should the dispute persist beyond these dates. This escalation could involve further strikes, overtime bans, or work-to-rule measures, amplifying pressure on hospital operations.

Staff dedication remains evident, with Unite the union noting that workers are only acting after exhausting other avenues. Any service disruptions during these dates will primarily affect non-emergency pathology and clinical engineering functions, though patient care contingencies are likely being prepared by the trust.

What Are the Broader Implications for Patients and Services?

The strike poses risks to diagnostic services reliant on pathology, such as lab testing for blood work and tissue analysis, potentially delaying treatments across the trust’s hospitals in Barking, Havering, and Redbridge. Clinical engineering supports vital medical equipment maintenance, so outsourcing fears could foreshadow longer-term service reliability issues if unresolved. Unite the union insists that management failings, not staff, bear responsibility for disruptions.

Patients in east London, already facing NHS backlogs, may experience indirect impacts, though emergency care is expected to be ringfenced. The trust, via Alan Wishart, signals willingness to negotiate, which could avert or mitigate the action’s scope.

Why Has Industrial Relations Collapsed at the Trust?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham pinpointed a total breakdown in relations, attributing it to bullying, pay attacks, and condition erosions. Long-standing pathology issues, including tribunal-validated harassment claims, have festered without resolution. Expense reimbursement failures add a layer of perceived pettiness to the grievances.

Sujata Virdee’s comments reinforce this narrative, portraying trust leadership as unresponsive. Conversely, Alan Wishart highlights recent talks as evidence of goodwill, suggesting a perceptual gap between union and management views.

Could Outsourcing to Siemens Healthineers Benefit Anyone?

Unite the union dismisses benefits, forecasting degraded terms for staff and suboptimal patient outcomes under private operation. Siemens Healthineers, a global firm, might promise efficiencies, but the union prioritises in-house control. No direct statement from Siemens Healthineers appears in available reports, leaving the proposal’s merits debated solely through union and trust lenses.

The trust has not elaborated on outsourcing rationales beyond workforce statements, but such moves often aim at cost savings amid NHS funding strains.

What Happens If the Dispute Escalates?

Unite the union has signalled intensification post-6 February, potentially expanding to more dates or actions. This could strain resources at Queen’s Hospital in Romford, King George Hospital in Goodmayes, and community sites. Resolution hinges on trust concessions on shifts, pay protection, expenses, bullying remedies, and outsourcing reversal.

Ongoing talks, as noted by Alan Wishart, offer a pathway, but Sujata Virdee’s demand for a member-acceptable solution underscores the high bar.

Background on Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust

Serving over 700,000 people across east London and Essex, the trust operates major hospitals amid chronic NHS pressures like staffing shortages and backlogs. Pathology and clinical engineering are linchpins for diagnostics and equipment uptime. This dispute echoes wider union militancy in the NHS over pay and conditions since 2023.

Unite’s involvement aligns with its aggressive defence of public sector workers. As a seasoned journalist covering NHS industrial strife, this case exemplifies how local trust decisions ripple into broader service threats.