Hundreds of low-paid NHS hospital staff win improved terms after strike threat | Hospitals

Hundreds of poorly paid NHS hospital workers are celebrating victory after bosses agreed to improve their terms and conditions following the threat of strike action.

More than 330 workers, mainly cleaners, caterers and porters, known as facilities staff, at the St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group (GESH) – 98% of those surveyed – have voted to take strike action.

The cleaners, caterers and porters were recruited four years ago as NHS employees, but have been denied the same conditions as many other NHS workers, losing millions of dollars in pay and other entitlements over the years.

Workers said they had been systematically excluded from the terms of the NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) and were prepared to strike unless GESH awarded them full AfC contracts.

The strike was averted after a November 6 board vote approved proposals to implement full AfC contracts.

A report from their union, United Voices of the World (UVW), accused the group of “institutional racism” over differences in pay and working conditions for these internal NHS workers, who are mostly from minority ethnic communities. According to the report, £32 million was lost in wages and benefits and £6 million in withheld pensions.

It said facility staff were entitled to a maximum of £13.85 an hour, while other NHS workers in the hospital group received a minimum rate of £14.92 an hour.

The right to leave is also reduced for installation employees, who benefit from 24 days of leave without increase depending on their seniority, unlike other colleagues who benefit from up to 33 days plus public holidays. Employer pension contributions are 3%, compared to 23.7% for other NHS workers.

Pujan Sherpa, a cleaner for nine years at St Helier Hospital and a member of the UVW, welcomed the agreement. She said: “I’m very happy with the new contract. We now have a pay rise, NHS holidays, NHS pensions. They will finally pay us better for working weekends, for example, which I do. Having more money in our pockets will have a big impact on our family life.”

Petros Elia, the general secretary of the UVW, said: “This deal was not given to these workers – it was achieved through their unity, their courage and the threat of strike. After years of ignorance, underpayment and worse than second-class treatment, they forced the trust to treat them as equals. This victory is testament to the power of workers united. They are true heroes of the NHS.”

A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We are proud of the diversity of our workforce and our board has taken decisive action to end a historic agreement which left some of our employees paid different rates for carrying out similar work.

“We will now consult our fellow porters, cleaners, caterers and patient transports on our proposals to move towards the NHS Change Agenda, with a pay rise of more than £2,000 and an increase in annual leave from April 2026.”