Hospital staff balloted over strike action
United Voices of the WorldMore than 200 hospital cleaners and porters could strike over NHS equality at a Surrey hospital trust.
Approximately 258 NHS facilities workers at St Helier and Epsom Hospital Trust are being balloted over demands for full equality with their hospital colleagues.
The ballot closes on 12 August, with potential strike dates announced later that month.
The trust said the workers recently received a 5.3% pay rise, backdated to April.
The workers, most of whom are from migrant and minority ethnic backgrounds, are NHS employees but are allegedly denied the NHS's national pay system, terms and conditions.
The trade union United Voices of the World claims they were not given the standard NHS contracts and remain on inferior terms, getting lower pay and missing out on benefits such as paid sick leave from day one, enhanced nights and weekend pay as well as lower pension contributions
'Open to engaging'
An Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals spokesperson said: "Our porters and cleaners and everyone who works in our trusts are hugely valued and respected colleagues, and we were pleased to recently announce a pay rise of up to 5.3% backdated to April.
"When colleagues were brought in-house in 2021 they received improved pay and conditions compared to their private contracts, including the London living wage.
"We understand their concerns and remain open to engaging with our colleagues and their unions."
Petros Elia, UVW General Secretary said: "These workers are as much a part of the NHS as any doctor, nurse, or administrator. They kept our hospitals running during the pandemic, yet in 2025 they're still treated as second-class NHS employees.
"This two-tier system is degrading, demoralising and discriminatory. It sends a message that their labour matters less, and their lives matter less. And it must end."
The trade union argues pay has been frozen and it is now formally moving toward strike action after the CEO and Board of Trustees refused to enter negotiations, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Key workers such as cleaners, porters and caterers were brought in-house in 2021 and released from private contracts.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.