Hundreds of hospital workers including porters, cleaners and catering staff, will launch strike action from Monday in a dispute over pay.
Members of Unite employed by outsourcing company Serco at London hospitals St Barts, the Royal London and Whipps Cross will walk out for two weeks.
Unite claimed that the mainly black, Asian and ethnic minority staff are paid up to 15 per cent less than directly employed NHS workers.
Serco said it had recently increased its pay offer to a total of 3 per cent, backdated to last April, adding it was the same as that being received by people directly employed by the NHS.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The NHS workers taking strike action have their union’s unwavering support. They face the same risks as NHS-employed staff. Why on earth are they being paid significantly worse while being treated disgracefully?
“It’s time to end this injustice. It’s time to bring these workers, employed by Serco not the NHS, back into NHS employment.”
Unite regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “Our members have worked tirelessly through the pandemic, they deserve better. Serco and Barts need to deliver a pay increase that addresses the poor pay and the inequality of treatment compared to directly employed NHS staff at other hospitals in London.”
Shane DeGaris, deputy group chief executive at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Over the next 13 months we will be considering future arrangements of the facilities management contract, which could include bringing some services back in-house.
“We are hopeful that this matter can be resolved but are working with Serco to put the appropriate measures in place and ensure hospital services are supported if strike action does go ahead.”
Taddy McAuley, Serco’s contract director for Barts Health, said: “We are extremely disappointed with the notification of strike action from Unite as we recently increased the pay offer for our employees to a total of 3%, backdated to April 2021.
“This is the same percentage increase as that being received by people directly employed by the NHS.
“Serco also recently announced a £100 ex-gratia payment for all of our 52,000 front line employees around the world, including all our colleagues at Barts Health.
“We look forward to further discussions with Unite and hope to work together to find a resolution that avoids the need for this unnecessary strike action.”
A rally will be held outside the Royal London Hospital on Monday and later in the week at St Barts and Whipps Cross.
