MORE than 600 workers at Barnsley NHS Trust began voting in an industrial action ballot today following fire-and-rehire threats, GMB said.

Nurses, technicians and clerical workers will work extra and longer shifts for no more pay under new contracts that remove all paid breaks and impose longer unpaid breaks, said the union.

Two thousand workers, approximately half the workforce and mostly nurses working on the wards, would be affected with any who reject the change will be sacked and rehired on the worse contract, it added.

GMB organiser Rachel Dix said: “These front-line NHS workers already work long hours in incredibly stressful jobs.

“This move from Barnsley Trust managers is a demoralising and unfair attack on their terms and conditions. 

“GMB members have been absolutely clear they will not accept this attack on their well-earned break times and will stand up to the appalling threat of fire and rehire.”

The trust was contacted for comment.