CARILLION staff at GWH could go on strike in a dispute over holiday allowances.

Members of the GMB union will decide this weekend whether or not to formally vote on strike action.

They say that insufficient staff numbers have left them unable to book holidays for this year.

GMB are understood to have had positive meetings with regional managers at Carillion, which hold cleaning, catering and helpline contracts with the Great Western Hospital’s PFI owner. Talks have also been held with Serco – the company expected to take over the Carillion contracts.

But with the collapse of super-contractor Carillion today, it has thrown discussions over staff conditions into question.

Andy Newman, Wiltshire and Swindon GMB branch secretary, said: “The issues are so pressing for our members that we cannot wait for the uncertainty about ownership of the contract to be resolved, as our members are affected right now, as they cannot book holidays for 2018, and therefore GMB has no choice other than to proceed with our plans for industrial action.

"The most substantial issue is that with around 170 housekeepers, Carillion do not employ enough 'floating' staff to cover holiday and sickness.”

He claimed that Carillion managers were sending staff home two hours early – taking the time from their holiday entitlement.

“GMB regard this as both unethical and probably unlawful,” Mr Newman said.

“In addition, staff are prevented from swapping more than two shifts per year, which makes the holiday issue even worse, as it means that staff are prevented from attending doctor, dentist or other appointments."

The Swindon Advertiser understands that a letter to staff was placed on a noticeboard on January 6, with managers saying that for a “staggeringly high” number of dates in 2018, holiday entitlement was already taken.

The GMB’s Mr Newman said: “It is already impossible for staff to take whole blocks of one or two weeks for most of the year.”

GMB have written to GWH's chief executive Nerissa Vaughan urging her to support talks between the union and local Carillion managers.

The latest threat of strikes follows action in 2012, when GMB members went on strike for 21 days over accusations of discrimination and bullying at the hospital.

Great Western Hospital issued a veiled warning to GMB - urging the union's support in ensuring patients feel "as little disruption as possible" following Carillion's collapse.

A spokesman said: “We have received a letter from the branch secretary of the GMB on this matter and will respond in due course.

“Our focus right now is on ensuring that Carillion services at the Great Western Hospital can continue as normal and that patients, visitors and staff see and feel as little disruption as possible and, for this, we would appreciate GMB’s support.”

This evening, a Carillion employed security guard, who works at Great Western Hospital, complained that staff were not being updated about discussions over the future of the firm's contract with the hospital.

He said: "Not much is being relayed to staff. We haven't been told anything at any time. We only get to hear what everyone else hears through the media."

In social media posts, GWH told Carillion staff that it was "business as usual". They posted: "If you're a Carillion worker and have a shift coming up either today or in the coming days, please come in as as you will still be paid."