London hospital staff to strike over alleged low pay and unsafe conditions

Support workers at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, including cleaners, porters, store operatives and food service assistants, will stage pickets from Monday, October 19, through Wednesday, October 21. Unite alleges the Trust has ignored long-standing complaints about racist and bullying behaviour, insecure bank contracts, insufficient safety equipment for security staff and a lack of basic welfare amenities such as showers.

Union leader Sharon Graham said staff cannot survive on “poverty-level” wages in London, while Unite’s health officer Tabusam Ahmed warned of the impact on service delivery. The Trust responded that pay scales are determined by the wider NHS and urged the union to cancel the action to preserve progress in negotiations. Further strikes are planned for the autumn and possibly the new year if the dispute remains unresolved.