HUNDREDS of staff at an NHS depot in Maidstone are set to strike in protest at the privatisation of their jobs.

The dates of the proposed industrial action are expected to be announced later today following a meeting of union representatives from the five NHS Logistics depots across the UK.

Paul Harper, the Unison branch secretary at the Allington depot on the 20/20 industrial estate was at the TUC conference on Monday when the results of a strike ballot were announced.

Seventy-five per cent of members voted in favour of industrial action.

Mr Harper said: “We were given a standing ovation as we unfurled our banner. There was a great deal of support.”

Mr Harper predicted that strike action would follow sooner rather than later, but he promised that staff would provide “life and limb cover.”

He said: “If there is an emergency, of course we shall go back in.”

The workers are concerned that the Government has agreed to transfer the work of NHS Logistics to a private company, DHL, in a £1.6 billion contract, starting from October 1.

DHL have promised that they would keep the Allington depot going for at least five years of its 10-year contract, and said it had no forseeable plans for redundancies, but the union fears many of the centre’s 250 jobs could go.

Meanwhile, Unison today filed papers at the High Court seeking a judicial review of the Government’s decision. Mr Harper said: “We’ve been told we have a 50/50 chance of success.”