A group of NHS workers have voted to strike over a plan to move their jobs to an independent firm.
The health union Unison said 1,700 cleaners, porters and other support staff in Dorset hospitals were under threat of being transferred to an NHS-owned subco (a subsidiary company).
The union said nearly 94% of members backed a possible strike, on a turnout of more than 74%.
The trusts involved – Dorset HealthCare, Dorset County Hospital and University Hospitals Dorset – said workers would retain NHS pay and conditions if the subco was created, although no final decision had been made.
Several NHS trusts have made plans for subcos affecting thousands of workers, the union said.
It warned there could be further walkouts by NHS staff in other parts of the country unless hospital trusts were stopped from “back door privatisation”.
The union is bringing a motion on subcos for debate at the Labour Conference, which begins in Liverpool on Sunday.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: “Before the election, Labour promised to bring workers on private contracts back into public services.
“They need to make good on that promise and quickly, or they risk seeing widespread disruption in the NHS in coming months.
“The overwhelming vote by Dorset support staff demonstrates just how strongly health workers feel about any erosion of their pay and conditions.”
In a statement, the three NHS trusts in Dorset said they were keen to avoid industrial action.
They said: “[We] are working together to improve the care we provide to our patients and to make the best use of our resources.
“We must stress that no final decision has been made on whether to go ahead with the proposed creation of this company.
“However, if we do, we would again stress this would be 100% owned by the NHS and we are committed to retain NHS pay, terms, conditions and access to the NHS pension scheme for current and future staff.”