Peter Lazenby
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HUNDREDS of workers at a London NHS Trust have demanded that staff whose jobs were outsourced to a privateer are taken into direct employment.
Underpaid porters, cleaners, caterers, security guards and receptionists working for St Barts NHS Trust have suspended two weeks of strike action pending a key board meeting of the trust, due to happen on Wednesday.
The strikers are employed by highly profitable multinational outsourcing firm Serco.
Unite said that the Serco workers, mainly from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, are paid 15 per cent less than equivalent, directly employed NHS staff.
Today, hundreds of their NHS colleagues signed a letter to trust chief executive Dame Alwen Williams DBE demanding that their jobs be transferred to the NHS.
The trust runs St Barts, Royal London and Whipps Cross hospitals.
The letter was organised by campaign group Barts Health NHS Workers Against Outsourcing, which is supported by union Unite and healthcare charity Medact.
It said: “We are all one team supporting the NHS, and we should all be employed by the NHS.”
Unite regional officer Tabusam Ahmed said: “We’ve had lots of talks, but now it’s time to act.
“Barts must confirm unequivocally that they will bring the workforce into NHS employment on NHS terms and conditions from day one.
“There must be a firm commitment to end the gross inequality and bullying that our members face daily.
“Unless the board makes the right decision, the workers will intensify their campaign against exploitation.”
Unite branch secretary and porter at Whipps Cross Len Hockey said: “Discrimination, injustice and inequality need to end now.
“The vital contribution that these workers have made, and continue to make, through the pandemic must be acknowledged.”
Shane DeGaris, deputy group chief executive at Barts Health NHS Trust said: “We are considering future arrangements of the facilities management contract, which could include bringing some services back in-house.
“We are grateful to Unite for postponing the strike so negotiations can continue and we hope a solution can be found that all parties are satisfied with.”
