Cleaners and porters at a London NHS trust are to walk out for a second time over 'poverty-level' pay and 'poor' management. Nearly 300 band two workers at Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust will launch a three-day strike at 7am this morning, before marching to Downing Street on Wednesday.
Those on the picket line, a list that also includes stores operatives and food service assistants, are some of the lowest paid within the Trust at £15.89 per hour. Union Unite said that despite carrying out tough tasks, its members are treated 'appallingly' by the Trust's management.
Staff complaints and union response
Staff have reportedly made a number of complaints that bosses have failed to address. These range from racist and bullying behaviour by facilities management to issues over bank contracts and hours.
Unite claims management also hasn't provided adequate showers and changing facilities or safety equipment to security. General secretary Sharon Graham said: "Guy's and St Thomas' is one of the country's biggest NHS trusts but is treating its staff with utter disdain."
"They cannot survive living in London on poverty-level wages. Our members are the backbone of the hospital - keeping it clean, feeding patients and staff or keeping the public safe - but they are paid barely above the minimum wage. This cannot continue and they have the full support of their union in this dispute."
Strike dates and escalation plans
The strike follows three days of industrial action in September. Further dates are planned throughout autumn and could escalate into 2027 if NHS management doesn't agree to negotiate and find solutions, Unite added.
"It is heart-breaking to hear the struggles of these workers in their work places including having to put up with bullying and disrespect," said Tabusam Ahmed, Unite lead health officer for London, "Alongside multiple other failures of management, our members have been left with no option but to take strike action."
"The trust has the power to resolve our pay dispute and work with Unite to build a culture of dignity and respect. This dispute will inevitably have a huge impact on service delivery across the trust, but this is entirely of the trust’s own making."
Picket lines and trust response
Striking workers will stand outside St Thomas' Hospital from 7am to 10.30am this morning, and outside Guy's Hospital at the same time tomorrow. On Wednesday, the picket line will again kick off St Thomas's, with workers then marching to Downing Street from 10.30am.
A spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “It is unfortunate that Unite has called these strikes in the middle of ongoing negotiations.”
“We would urge them to call off this action so we can continue making progress on a fair deal for our highly valued staff.”
