Croydon Hospital workers to hold post box rally as they gear up for strike action
Porters and cleaners industrial action vote closes on 18 March, says GMB Union
GMB members who work as porters and cleaners at Croydon Hospital are holding a post box rally this Friday afternoon in the main entrance of the hospital.
The workers, who are employed by outsourcing giant G4S, are currently being balloted for industrial action over pay and are demanding the real London Living Wage and an occupational sick pay scheme.
The rally will take place around the post box in the entrance of Croydon University Hospital from 3:30pm on Friday (11 March) and will be encouraging members to return their ballot paper before the ballot closes on Friday 18 March.
Helen O’Connor, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “Large numbers of G4S workers are joining GMB because they are sick and tired of trying to eke out an existence on poverty pay and having to come into a hospital to work when they are unwell.
“They held a protest on 31 January which was widely supported and they had hoped this this would prompt G4S and the trust to take their concerns seriously but nothing has changed. They are now voting for a strike and they are determined to ensure that every last G4S colleague joins the union and votes in the ballot.
“They are clear that they want to see the end of G4S and they want to be taken back in-house by the trust and put on NHS contracts like all the other staff in the hospital.
“The aim of the rally this Friday is to speak to patients and other staff about the action and why these workers have been forced to vote for strike action.
“GMB hopes that this dispute can be resolved before strikes cripple the functioning of the hospital, but our members remain determined to fight for what they’re owed if G4S don’t recognise the value of our members.”
