Essential staff at Airedale Hospital will take strike action in a fight for pension equality.
Nearly 200 workers, including porters, domestic, catering and security staff, will walk out for 7 days from 20 January 2026.
The staff, outsourced to AGH Solutions (AGHS) a wholly owned subsidiary of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, have already won improvements to their terms and conditions closer to NHS standards, but issues around pensions remains unresolved.
Joe Wheatley, GMB Union Organiser, said:
"The Chief Executive of Airedale NHS Trust is on £202,000 a year - the director of AGHS is on £184,000 a year.
"Effectively, these well-paid administrators are telling our frontline NHS workers, who are on £24,465 a year, that they don’t care if they can't afford to retire."
“We have ten senior managers at Airedale Trust whose combined salaries would almost cover the cost of uplifting 300 frontline NHS workers onto the NHS pension.
“This dispute is about whether NHS workers retire with dignity or in poverty, we invite the administrators of the Trust and AGHS to answer that question.”
Dennis Kentrop, Managing Director of AGH Solutions Ltd, said:
"We are disappointed that our improved pension offer was rejected by GMB and we were not able to reach an agreement to avoid any disruption to patient care.
"I hope that we can continue to work with the union to resolve this before 20 January. However, should industrial action take place, we will work through our contingency plans and apply lessons learned from the previous rounds of strikes to maintain the services that we provide to Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.'
"
Doggy Days set to return to Ilkley Lido
Foley Films returns to Ilkley with new autumn programme
Spellman Care named Health and Wellbeing Business of the Year
Runners for Great North Run raise over £17,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Sir Gareth Southgate helps raise £23,000 for Martin House at Ilkley golf event
Ashlands Bonfire to celebrate 40th anniversary with biggest-ever fireworks display
Off-peak roadworks begin on A65 near Ilkley
Ilkley businesses become Gold Sponsor of Clarke Foley Community Hub
Ilkley takeaway named among Tripadvisor’s top 10% worldwide
McDonald's near Ilkley seeks earlier opening hours
Ilkley care home resident celebrates 106th birthday
Fresh handmade bread coming to Three Little Birds in Ilkley
Former Ilkley bistro owner teases new venture on the High Street
New Ilkley travel agency to celebrate opening with special event
Mental health campaign launched in memory of son
Yorkshire writers in spotlight at Ilkley Literature Festival
Annual golf day raises £4,383 for Airedale Hospital
The Ilkley Cow enters search for UK's Favourite Local Business
New Ilkley care home announces opening date following 11 month refurbishment
Ilkley team raises £3,300+ for The Principle Trust in Three Peaks challenge
