‘Safety could be compromised’: Hospital security guards strike in dispute over holiday and pay

Hospital security workers are set to go on strike for eight days from today in a dispute over holiday and pay.

Strike action will take place at two of the trust’s Lambeth hospitals, St Thomas’ Hospital in Westminster Bridge Road and Guy’s Hospital in Great Maze Pond.

The union Unite has announced that 30 security workers at the trust will take part in the action, until next Thursday. 

The action follows recent proposals from the trust to impose “extended unpaid breaks” and its “refusal” to calculate holiday allowance based on a 37.5 hour working week.

The trust currently calculates holiday allowance based on security workers working 44 hours a week, even if they work fewer hours. This means security workers receive fewer holidays, a spokeswoman from Unite said.

According to Unite, the security guards – who are paid £10.76 an hour – are among the lowest-paid workers at the hospital.

The union has warned the trust that “safety could be compromised” during the strike, as security workers play “a vital safeguarding role”.

A spokesman for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust said: “We are disappointed that Unite has called these strikes in the middle of constructive talks.

“We would urge them to call off this action so we can continue making progress on a fair deal for our highly valued security officers.”

Pictured top: St Thomas’ Hospital (Picture: Google Street View)