Cleaners and porters at Croydon University Hospital balloted for strikes over sick pay dispute

A South London hospital could “grind to a halt” if cleaners and porters go on strike, a union has warned.

GMB Union members at Croydon University Hospital are voting on whether to strike as a dispute over sick pay rages on.

It comes six weeks after staff protested outside the hospital in London Road.

Cleaners and porters at the hospital are employed by private firm G4S and the union claims staff are not paid the London Living Wage or offered occupational sick pay.

Helen O’Connor, GMB Regional Organiser, said workers at the hospital are “angry” and claimed more G4S employees at the hospital were joining the union.

She said: “Most of the workers on G4S terms and conditions are migrants and they are fed up with being treated like second-class workers in the hospital.

“They want parity of pay, terms and conditions, and they believe that if G4S cannot do this then they should to be taken back in-house by the trust and placed on NHS contracts.

“No one wants strike action in and around the hospital because cleaning, waste disposal, and the transfer of patients will be badly impacted but these workers have had enough and are ready to strike.

“GMB is very concerned that the hospital will grind to a halt so we are calling on the trust and G4S to get around the table to resolve this dispute once and for all.”

The ballot opened on Friday, March 4 and will close on March 18.

When the public dispute started in January, a G4S spokesperson said: “The well-being of our staff is paramount. Our employees receive sick pay as per their contractual terms and in line with all Government and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) guidelines.

“Employees who have not been able to attend work due to Covid-19 have received full pay.”

G4S and Croydon University Hospital were contacted for comment.