HOSPITAL cleaners will vote tomorrow night on balloting for strike.

Carillion workers at the Great Western Hospital are unhappy about working conditions.

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

The collapse of super-contractor Carillion, which holds cleaning, catering and helpline contracts at GWH, have thrown union talks into question. 

Andy Newman, Wiltshire and Swindon GMB union 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.

"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. 

A spokesman for GWH said that their focus was on ensuring Carillion services could be performed with minimal disruption to patients and visitors.

"For this we would appreciate GMB’s support," he said on Monday.