Nearly 400 cleaners, caterers and porters at St Helier Hospital were being paid less than colleagues doing similar jobs
Hundreds of the lowest-paid workers at St Helier and Epsom hospitals have won a major victory after exposing what they called ‘Mickey Mouse contracts’ that left them earning less than colleagues doing the same jobs.
The hospital trust has now agreed to increase pay and conditions for more than 330 cleaners, porters and caterers after they voted to strike earlier this year. The Trust, which also includes St George’s Hospital, agreed to increase pay by £40 a week from April 2026 for the lowest-paid staff, along with improved annual leave, sickness pay, and unsocial hours enhancements by 2028.
They have now been brought onto the same NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) pay and conditions, following years of complaints that they were being “shafted” on lesser contracts.
United Voices of the World (UVW) General Secretary Petros Elia said the outcome was won through determination. The union representative said: “This deal was not handed to these workers, it was extracted through their unity, courage, and the threat of strike action,” he said.
He added that staff had spent years being “ignored, underpaid and treated worse than second class”. Elia said the victory proves “the power of workers standing together”, calling the facilities teams “true NHS heroes”.
A cleaner at St Helier Hospital said the new contract will finally bring fairness to staff who often work weekends and unsocial hours. She said: “I’m very happy about the new contract, now we have a pay rise, NHS holidays, NHS pensions.”
She added that improved pay for weekend work will make a meaningful difference to her family. She said: “Having more money in our pockets will have a big impact on our family life.”
Concerns first surfaced in June 2021 when staff transferred from private contractor Mitie to the South London and Surrey based trust. Earlier this year, UVW steward Farrokh Hormoz told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) how workers quickly realised the “protected AfC” terms they were offered were “basically a Mickey Mouse contract”.
Farrokh told the LDRS that many felt misled after discovering they were not receiving the holidays, pensions or sickness benefits outlined in their handbooks. He said workers had spent years pushing for parity but struggled to get answers.
Nearly 400 facilities staff later voted overwhelmingly for strike action in August, citing long-standing disparities they said fell disproportionately on minority ethnic workers. Strike action was halted only after the Trust’s board agreed earlier this month to introduce full AfC contracts, following negotiations.
Liberal Democrat MPs Helen Maguire, Bobby Dean and Luke Taylor welcomed the agreement, calling it long-overdue recognition for staff who keep hospitals running. They had previously written to the Trust urging action on the pay disparity.
Bobby Dean, Carshalton and Wallington MP, said: “This is a step in the right direction for staff who do vital work at St Helier Hospital. But three years is a long time to wait for fair overtime pay, and this settlement will have to come from the existing budget, stretching hospital finances further.”
Mr Taylor added: “I’m concerned it will take years before the full settlement is implemented. Issues remain over back pay and pensions, and the Government must provide new funding to ensure a faster resolution.”
Mr Dean also highlighted the need for more support to pay staff fairly and complete long-delayed repairs, stressing that patients deserve treatment in modern, safe facilities.
Mr Taylor warned that parts of St Helier Hospital suffer from leaking wards and failing ceilings. He welcomed the settlement but urged immediate government action, saying: “We cannot afford to wait until the next decade for a new hospital building in Sutton.”
The LDRS understands that the move to AfC contracts will cost the Trust an extra £7.9m. Past pension contributions will also need to be corrected on top of this.
Last week, St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals announced the appointment of Matthew Shaw as their new Chief Executive. Mr Shaw will formally take over from interim Chief Executive, James Blythe, in early Spring 2026.
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.”
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