We have no confidence in the Government’s ability to negotiate such a huge contract given their recent track record in the NHS. Look at the overspend on computer systems, which is running into billions, or the guaranteed funding to private sector treatment centres for operations they haven’t even carried out.”DHL will be a monopoly supplier and already we have a lack of openness in this contract. The first stoppage could be staged in the week before the Labour Party conference which begins in Manchester on 24 September.DHL is scheduled to take over the management of around £22bn worth of NHS spending in October.Dave Prentis, the general secretary of the public service union Unison, said he was supporting the call for industrial action to demonstrate to the Government that the union was united in its opposition to the “sale” of NHS Logistics. Union leaders predicted more than 1,000 staff at NHS Logistics would deliver an overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action against the Government’s decision to award a 10-year contract to the private-sector haulage company.
It is understood that the public service union Unison will call a 24-hour strike initially, followed by regional industrial action – the biggest outbreak of industrial action in the NHS over privatisation. The German-owned company DHL is expected to face a series of strikes as it takes over a £1.6bn contract to oversee supplies to the National Health Service.

He originally joined Vodafone in 2000 when the British company acquired the Italian mobile operator Omnitel, where he was the chief executive.. Vodafone has come under pressure in these markets due to intense competition and regulatory action.It has identified mobile advertising and broadband as potential growth drivers. Mr Colao is considered an excellent candidate to deal with these challenges given his former position in charge of Vodafone’s operations in southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.Vodafone was able to move swiftly to rehire the former McKinsey consultant after he quit RCS in July. However, he has a big job to do there and is no shoe-in.”Starting in October, Mr Calao will look to cut costs while stimulating revenue growth in mature markets across Europe including the UK, Germany and Italy. Mr Sarin said in a statement: “We have a number of major challenges and opportunities in our European region and I am confident that, given his background and experience, Vittorio is well equipped to succeed in this position.”Mr Colao, 44, replaces Bill Morrow who abruptly left the company in July after a decade with Vodafone so that he could return to his native California and keep his family together.The Italian will also replace the departing Sir Julian Horn-Smith as deputy group chief executive.Robert Grindle, an analyst with Dresdner Kleinwort, said: “Just as Bill Morrow would have been a strong succession candidate, so will Vittorio Colao If the job came up he would definitely be in the running.

He was passed over for the position in favour of Mr Sarin when Sir Christopher Gent stood down as chief executive in 2003 and left the company in 2004 to take charge of RCS MediaGroup, which owns the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.Yet a move to replace Mr Sarin does not appear imminent, especially as the current chief executive was involved in rehiring the Italian. The company also named Mr Colao as deputy chief executive, in effect anointing him heir apparent for Arun Sarin, Vodafone’s chief executive.
The appointment fuelled speculation that Mr Colao could soon replace Mr Sarin. About 10 per cent of investors voted against Mr Sarin’s re-election as chief executive at the company’s annual meeting in July with major shareholders such as Standard Life and Morley Fund Management holding him responsible for Vodafone’s flagging growth prospects and a poor share price performance.Mr Colao has previously indicated that he would be interested in the top job at Vodafone should it become available. Vodafone moved to strengthen its management team yesterday by welcoming back Vittorio Colao to take charge of its European operations two years after he left the telecoms giant for the Italian media group RCS. Paramount has faced criticism in Hollywood over weak decision-making by inexperienced managers, while MTV has been slow to adapt to internet-based entertainment for youngsters.Even before Viacom shares fell 5 per cent in early trading yesterday, they were down 10 per cent since the split. CBS, the other half of the Redstone empire, had gained 10 per cent.Mr Redstone has always said it would take a year to judge the success or otherwise of the split but he has been increasingly focused on securing his legacy and ensuring a robust inheritance for his daughter, Shari, who he wants to take over control of the companies. He moved swiftly to remove Mr Freston after deciding he had lost the confidence of Wall Street – ending a relationship that goes back 26 years.Mr Sumner said that his decision was unrelated to the debacle over Tom Cruise.The new chief executive, Philippe Dauman, is another 20-year associate of Mr Redstone, but his most recent job as a private equity fund manager suggests that the company may embark on an acquisition spree..