Croydon Hospital cleaners and porters vote overwhelmingly for strike which could bring treatment to a halt

Key workers who backed down during lockdown over a dispute over sick pay, to make sure patients stayed safe in the pandemic, have now voted almost unanimously for strike action.

Cleaners and porters at Croydon University Hospital could bring medical treatment to a halt if its ruling trust does not bring their contracts back in-house, their union warns.

GMB Members smashed the threshold for voter turnout with 61 percent returning the ballot and 98 percent voting in favour of action.

G4S, who now employ these workers, have so far failed to make any serious offer to the workforce to address their concerns about pay and sick pay. GMB are calling for a minimum hourly rate of £11.05 and a proper occupational sick pay

Helen O’Connor GMB Organiser said:  “These workers are sick and tired of being exploited by outsourcing giant G4s.

“They are on poverty pay and have never had a voice at work before. Now they can see the power of being organised within a campaigning trade union for the very first time.

“They care about the patients, and they don’t want to be forced to go on strike by G4S.

“G4S has cut their contracts to the bone; workloads are so excessive staff are incurring injuries and ill health. Then they still have to come into work because they don’t get adequate sick pay.

“It’s not good for patients, workers or the hospital community.

“GMB urges Croydon NHS to take the contract back in house and place all of the workforce on NHS terms and conditions.

“Otherwise, we face a strike which could cause the hospital to grind to a halt.”

The hospital workers employed by external company G4S claim they are not being paid when they are off ill with Covid-19.

The row came to a head when sick pay for staff off work with Covid was withdrawn, they claim.

It comes after dozens of staff protested outside the hospital on January 31, pictured above.

The GMB union claims staff were given full sick pay after testing positive for Covid-19 for a time – but it now knows of staff who have tested positive but are only receiving the basic statutory sick pay from the government, of £96 a week.

But G4S disputes this, claiming employees get full sick pay when they have Covid-19.

One cleaner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said “This is just the beginning” [of action].

They said: “G4S isn’t listening to the workers so the only way is to strike.

“I don’t think they realise how important we are – our job has become more important and there has been more to do [during the pandemic].”

A spokesperson for G4S 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 Government and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service guidelines. Employees who have not been able to attend work due to Covid-19 have received full pay.

“There has been no change to the overtime arrangements for our staff at Croydon Hospital.”