GMB march planned in Croydon against NHS outsourcing

Hundreds of GMB union members are expected to strike against the outsourcing of services at Croydon University Hospital on Saturday, December 10.

The hospital is part of the Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, but uses private firms such as G4S to outsource some roles within the functioning of the hospital.

GMB wants to bring the staff at the hospital back into the NHS fold, due to disparities in pay and sick pay for its workers.

GMB Regional Organiser Helen O’Connor said: “Our members are marching on Croydon because they are sick and tired of being treated as second-class workers by the NHS contractors who operate on a shoestring, as without their hard work, Croydon University Hospital wouldn’t be able to function.

O’Connor added: “All our members, many of them migrants, want to enjoy proper sick pay and other benefits like their NHS colleagues, as they know improving pay and conditions will go some way towards enhancing the services for patients too.

She continued: “Outsourced workers cannot rely on private companies to provide even the basics like legible payslips or pay their workers on time for hours worked.

“That’s why GMB members are demanding that the trust take them back in house now and give them the pay and conditions they need and deserve before the contract is sold off to the lowest bidder.”

The rally is to begin at 11.30am outside of Croydon University Hospital on Saturday, with participants making their way into the town centre for a demonstration outside of Whitgift Shopping Centre.

In March of this year, GMB called off a planned strike at Croydon University Hospital against G4S after the firm agreed to a 24% pay rise and an improved sick pay scheme.