There is a picket line outside Croydon’s Mayday Hospital and four other NHS hospitals across south London this morning, as ISS workers went on strike amid complaints of being “bullied” and “harassed”.

Picket line: GMB and members of other unions outside Croydon’s largest hospital during an earlier dispute

The workers, members of the GMB union, are employed by private contractor ISS as domestics, porters and catering staff, and today began four days of strike action after last-minute talks failed to agree terms.

The five hospitals affected, across two NHS trusts, include Mayday, the Maudsley at Denmark Hill, Bethlem Royal Hospital, Lambeth Hospital and the Ladywell Unit at Lewisham Hospital.

“The dispute centres around pay, terms and conditions,” the GMB said.

The strike is due to last until Monday, when the GMB is staging a protest march to ISS’s offices at Canary Wharf.

“Our members have had enough of being bullied, harassed and taken for granted,” said the GMB’s Helen O’Connor.

“They work hard ensuring hospitals are safe, clean and that patients are well-fed and get to appointments on time.

“ISS are making staffing cutbacks and wages and conditions are being driven down.

“The NHS should exist for the benefit of patients and its hard-working staff. It should not be exploited by private companies who are out to make a profit.

“We are calling on Croydon NHS and South London and Maudsley NHS to get involved in resolving this dispute as they have ultimate responsibility over these contractors and their impact on staff and key patient services.”

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