Members are concerned about the impact of the new scheme on staff, patients and local residents. The decision to go ahead with the scheme was made by the trust without proper consultation with staff and joint trade unions. As result, the RCN and all other trade unions are now in a formal dispute with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Roaqah Sharer, RCN representative at South Tees and Chair of Joint Staff Side said:
“Nursing staff provide a critically important service, often working unsocial hours and shifts. They are incredibly worried about the new parking provider and what the changes will mean for them and their patients.
"Staff shouldn’t be faced with unfair, unnecessary, and disproportionate fines or charges.
"Nursing staff continue to struggle with cost-of-living pressures and low pay. Many would simply be unable to pay parking fines."
The RCN and joint trade unions at South Tees are calling for:
- a reversal of the decision to implement ParkingEye at both the James Cook University Hospital and the Friarage Hospital sites
- meaningful talks on fixing parking issues at the trust – including increasing parking spaces across both sites.
Roaqah has met with and written to senior trust staff and continues to lobby for an immediate pause in the current plans to allow for meaningful consultation to take place.
The joint trade unions are currently planning a protest outside the James Cook University Hospital in early April calling on the trust to think again.
More details will be available shortly.
