Porters at York District Hospital are seeing red over management moves to swap their uniforms for a flaming-coloured T-shirt.

The 33-strong portering squad are presenting a united front to bosses against proposals to get them to wear a red polo shirt.

They say their current uniform - featuring a short-sleeved cotton shirt with epaulettes - is smarter and more comfortable and makes them easily identifiable to patients and visitors.

Hospital porter Colin Crockett is leading the revolt which mirrors the recent row over dress between York cabbies and railway station bosses, which led to a taxi boycott of the city station.

Mr Crockett, Unison shop steward, said: "All the porters have decided to stick together. If they try to make an example of one of us, we will have no option but to ask them to discipline all of us."

Mr Crockett added: "The T-shirts are too hot and when they are washed they will look scruffy. Also, they do not have any pockets for notepads, pens or reading glasses.

He said plans to make porters wear the T-shirts first surfaced last year. Mr Crockett wore one for half-a-day as a trial - then decided it was too uncomfortable and projected the wrong image.

Rachel Macdonald, head of facilities management for York Health Services Trust, said the hospital was phasing in the introduction of new uniforms for all staff in her department, including porters, cleaners, catering and health and safety staff.

The uniform included a red polo-shirt and blue trousers for men and a blue skirt with a red, white and blue tunic for women.

She said: "We already have people wearing these uniforms and they don't look scruffy."

She added: "Portering can be a physical job and it is not felt appropriate to put them into a collar and tie."

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