OUTSOURCED ancillary workers at a Yorkshire hospital have claimed a “massive victory” after bosses caved in and agreed to give them pay parity with NHS staff.

The jobs of porters, cleaners and catering staff at Airedale Hospital in Keighley, West Yorkshire, were transferred to a subsidiary set up three years ago by the Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, in defiance of trade union and public opposition.

Since then new employees taken on by the subsidiary have been paid less and suffered worse conditions than their colleagues.

General union GMB campaigned for equal pay and conditions, and the workers voted for strike action.

The first strike by more than 150 staff was scheduled for Monday, but was postponed after last-ditch talks were scheduled.

Trust bosses have now agreed to treat all employees equally and pay them NHS rates.

Hospital porter Blake Cooper said: “For those of us on the lower pay, it felt as if we were second-class citizens in our own place of work, like the hospital thought we were worth less and that we didn’t matter.”

He said that knowing that he was paid less was “gut-wrenching.”

“I’m proud of how we came together in GMB, how we organised, how we supported one another and that together we won this deal,” he said.

GMB organiser Rachel Dix said: “The strength and resolve of members at Airedale has been tremendous.

“This win represents another GMB victory against the erosion of pay, terms and conditions for NHS workers outsourced by local trusts.”

The trust was invited to comment.