More than 330 low-paid NHS hospital workers have won improved terms and conditions after bosses agreed to implement full Agenda for Change contracts. The facilities staff, including cleaners, caterers and porters, at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospital group (GESH) had voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, with 98% of those balloted supporting the move.
The workers were brought in-house as NHS employees four years ago but were denied the same conditions as many other NHS staff, losing what their union says amounted to millions of pounds in pay and benefits. Their union, United Voices of the World (UVW), accused the hospital group of institutional racism, highlighting that the mostly minority-ethnic workforce received lower pay, fewer holidays and reduced pension contributions.
According to a UVW report, facilities staff were paid a maximum of £13.85 an hour compared with a minimum of £14.92 for other NHS workers at the same trust. They also received 24 days’ holiday regardless of service, while colleagues could get up to 33 days plus bank holidays, and employer pension contributions were just 3% against 23.7% for other NHS employees.
Strike action was averted after a board vote on 6 November approved proposals to move facilities staff onto full Agenda for Change contracts. Pujan Sherpa, a cleaner at St Helier hospital for nine years, welcomed the deal: “I’m very happy about the new contract. Now we have a pay rise, NHS holidays, NHS pensions. They will finally pay us better for working weekends, for example, which I do. Having more money in our pockets will have a big impact on our family life.”
Petros Elia, UVW general secretary, said: “This deal was not handed to these workers — it was extracted through their unity, courage, and the threat of strike action. After years of being ignored, underpaid and treated worse than second class, they forced the trust to treat them as equals. This victory is a testament to the power of workers standing together. They are true NHS heroes.”
A spokesperson for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS trust said: “We are proud of the diversity of our workforce and our board has taken decisive action to end an historical arrangement that left some of our people paid different rates for doing similar work. We will now consult with our porters, cleaners, catering and patient transport colleagues on our proposals to move towards NHS Agenda for Change, with a pay rise of more than £2,000 and increased annual leave starting from April 2026.”
