HOSPITAL staff have secured a victory in their battle against parking charges labelled a “tax on working” - for now.

Mid and South Essex NHS Trust (MSE) - which runs Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals - has promised to keep parking free in the coming months.

However, they warned the trust could not continue covering the cost forever as it is “not sustainable".

The pledge follows a bitter dispute between bosses and staff after UNISON claimed the hospitals would re-introduce parking charges from August 1 after they were halted (and covered by the government) during the pandemic to help frontline doctors and nurses.

Hospital bosses yesterday told the UNISON union it will put the brakes on its plans and give staff a say on charges after more than 3,000 staff at the trust signed a petition against the charges.

Hospital workers had argued the plan was effectively a tax on coming to work and would hit particularly hard during a period of rapidly-rising inflation.

Under the scheme, staff would have automatically had 0.5 per cent of their annual salary taken from them to cover the cost of a parking permit.

They would have been able to opt out of the scheme but would still need to pay for parking if and when they used it.

A nurse at Southend Hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Echo after the now-postponed scheme was announced: “I think it’s disgusting.

“Deduction from salary, whether you park or not is unfair and amounts to a pay cut.

“There is no guarantee of a space and if you live outside Southend with rising fuel costs and no pay rise, people will be worse off and less likely to want to work there.”

Following the hospital's U-turn, UNISON Eastern regional organiser Sam Older said: “This is great news for health staff in mid and south Essex. Thousands of them rely on a car to get to work so any new charge is basically a pay cut.

“We’re glad that the trust has put the brakes on its plans, but it’s still leaving the threat of charges hanging over our heads. We hope MSE will use this opportunity to commit to keeping parking free for staff.”

A spokesperson for the trust, said: “No date has yet been set for the re-introduction of staff parking charges.

“While charges will have to be reintroduced at some point, it’s important that it’s done as fairly as possible for all staff.

“Work will be done over the coming weeks and months on a proposal that works for everyone and takes into consideration the current cost of living challenges.”

The government withdrew financial support for NHS staff parking on April 1 and the trust has been covering the cost since, but bosses say this is not sustainable”.