North health chiefs are drawing up a new rota for staff at the region’s biggest hospital in an attempt to avert a strike.
Trade union officials said last night that “the jury is out” in the dispute over Raigmore Hospital’s porters.
Last month, NHS Highland backed down after a stand-off with porters at the flagship Inverness hospital following a threat of industrial action.
Bosses at Raigmore shelved plans to trial a new rota from August 1, which would have involved staff working a 16-week pattern of shifts with seven start times.
The porters – who perform a number of tasks around the hospital, including removing deceased patients from wards and moving medical equipment – currently work an 11-week rota with four different start times.
The union had raised concerns about the rota leaving porters working seven days on for eight out of the 16 weeks.
A consultative ballot had shown overwhelming support for a walkout, with porters representatives claiming that patient safety could be put at risk by the shake-up.
Staff raised fears that the longer spells would lead to more sick leave because of the physically demanding nature of the job.
Hospital chiefs have held two meetings with the GMB union since the trial rota was scrapped, and are now drawing-up an alternative plan.
GMB regional organiser Liz Gordon said: “We are waiting for a new rota. When the new rota is put to us we will put another consultative ballot to our members and see.
“There has to be changes to the rota. There’s a recognition of the need to change and get the rota right.
“The jury is out. The ball is in their court.”
An NHS Highland spokeswoman said: “It is correct that there has been two successful meetings with GMB to date and a revised rota will be discussed with them.”