Porters and cleaners at Mayday Hospital are to be balloted by their union, the GMB, over whether to take strike action over pay rates and access to sick pay.
Strike ballot: Mayday ancillary workers have been denied covid sick pay by G4S
The workers, who are employed by outsourcing giants G4S, voted overwhelmingly in favour of moving to a formal ballot in their indicative workplace ballot.
All members were present at the vote and all voted to move to the next stage of proceedings, which, could see dozens of members out on strike.
The ballot is due to open on Friday March 4 and last for two weeks.
G4S – which holds the cleaning and portering contract with Croydon University Hospital NHS Trust – has stopped paying covid sick pay to employees, leaving workers, many of them poorly paid, reliant on statutory sick pay, or having to consider ignoring covid isolation rules in order to make sure they do get paid.
“G4S workers have been joining GMB in large numbers and voting in our indicative strike ballot,” said Helen O’Connor, the GMB’s regional organiser.
“They have made their intentions clear to us and they are sending a strong message to their employer that they have had enough.
“They are very angry about being denied decent pay and sick pay, particularly as they now face a cost of living crisis, too. Many are using food banks even though they have worked tirelessly in Croydon University hospital throughout the pandemic.
“Some workers have reported that they have been off sick with covid and not received a penny in sick pay from G4S. GMB has been very clear that all hospital workers should receive sick pay no matter who they work for, not least because this will prevent people coming into work sick and passing the virus from patient to patient.
“Members have informed us that they have had overtime removed from them by management for raising concerns, and so are left with no choice but to take collective action together
“They have also been inspired by their fellow hospital workers at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, who have recently won a sick pay proposal from their employer, Mitie.
“We are calling on G4S and the trust to listen to these members and meet their demands for pay justice.”
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