GMB union members working at Croydon’s Mayday Hospital are demanding equal pay for equal work and an end to outsourcing which they see as “an institutionally racist practice”.
Ready to strike: GMB members working at Mayday Hospital stage successful strike action last year
The union members are being balloted over strike action. Cleaners, caterers and porters, employed by outsourcing giant G4S, have been bypassed by all the pay rises awarded to NHS staff and they are now demanding that they receive equivalent settlements.
The ballot, which closes on October 2, could see a mass walkout of domestics and porters at Croydon University Hospital.
“Our members who are mostly migrant workers have had enough of being treated less favourably than all of the other staff directly employed by the NHS,” said union official Helen O’Connor.
“They smashed a strike ballot threshold before and they are ready to do so again.
“Workers outsourced to G4S lose out on NHS pay rises, sick pay, holidays and additional pay for working weekends.
“They are angry that they continue to suffer hardship in this cost of living crisis while G4S and the Croydon NHS Trust turn a blind eye.
“To add insult to injury, these low-paid worker are bearing the brunt of cutbacks as the overtime they rely on is being cut back too.
“Our members are demanding equal pay for equal work and an end to outsourcing which they see as an institutionally racist practice.
“They are likely to strike in large numbers until their demands have been met.”
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The GMB are fighting for fair pay – fine. But where’s the evidence that outsourcing is institutionally racist? The phrase is is thrown around so frequently and casually it’s in danger of becoming meaningless.
I think this was covered in the article.
“Our members who are mostly migrant workers have had enough of being treated less favourably than all of the other staff directly employed by the NHS,” said union official Helen O’Connor.
I.e. A group of workers who are predominantly migrants are subjected to a loophole where they don’t get payrises.