PLANNED strikes at a south London hospital have been called off after outsourced workers won a bumper 24 per cent pay increase, GMB announced today.

Cleaners and porters employed by contractor G4S at Croydon Hospital were due to walk out next Monday in a dispute over wages and sick pay.

However, the health union confirmed today that its members have voted to accept bosses’ offer of the London living wage – £11.05 an hour.

The concession, backdated to last November, is well timed, given that steep price rises are beginning to eat into household finances. 

It comes with a new occupational sick pay package, a key demand of the staff after many reported missing out on financial support while self-isolating due to Covid-19.

The workers “kept the hospital going through the pandemic and just wanted to be treated fairly,” GMB said.

Regional organiser Helen O’Connor added: “Every hospital worker should have occupational sick pay so workers can afford to take time off work and not come in when sick and present a cross-infection risk to colleagues and patients.   

“G4S has finally come up with a serious and substantial offer. Our members recognise this is a massive pay rise. 

“These workers have seen when they come together as a collective and are properly organised within GMB they have far more power to change their own lives and those of their families. 

“Solidarity in a workplace is the most effective way for workers to weather the cost-of-living crisis.” 

G4S is “pleased to have reached an agreement” with the workers, a company spokesperson said. 

A spokesperson for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said: “We are pleased an agreement has been reached.

"Our porters and cleaners are essential to the care we provide, and with their employers at G4S the trust has funded not only an improvement in their pay and conditions, but also back dated pay in recognition of their constant commitment and hard work.”