Lorry drivers employed by GXO will stage five separate walkouts across England beginning October 13, the union Unite announced. The strikes will occur over the dates October 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 and November 3-5 and 10-12.
The drivers, based in seven depot locations across Tyne and Wear, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Warwickshire and Suffolk, rejected a 4% pay offer from GXO. GXO runs the NHS supply chain contract for Supply Chain Coordination Limited (SCCL), which is wholly owned by NHS England.
Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone said: "There is still time for strike action to be avoided but that will require a deal our members can accept." Silkstone described the drivers as "dedicated workers" and said GXO had refused to put forward a reasonable offer.
GXO said it believed the 4% pay offer was fair. The company said in a statement that "patient care remains of paramount importance" and that it would maintain "a safe and effective operation throughout this period."
NHS Supply Chain and GXO said they had developed "robust contingency plans" to minimise disruption to hospitals.
The affected depots are located in Alfreton in Derbyshire, Bridgwater in Somerset, Normanton in West Yorkshire, Maidstone in Kent, Rugby in Warwickshire, Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk and Washington in Tyne and Wear. These drivers deliver general medical equipment including bandages, dressings, gowns, gloves and needles to hospitals across England.