Strike At St George's Hospital Looms Closer

---

GMB members vote overwhelmingly for an official strike ballot

GMB members who are cleaners and caterers working for Mitie
on the outsourced contract at St Georges Hospital voted overwhelmingly to request an official strike ballot over 'bogus redundancy cuts'.

GMB Members employed by Mitie have voted to oppose plans to make cuts to hours of cleaners and hostess staff in St George’s hospital as part of a bogus redundancy situation.

The workers have voted overwhelmingly to request an official strike ballot for action to fight the attack on standards in the hospital.

Helen O’Connor Regional Organiser said: "A legal redundancy situation is when the need for staff has diminished or ceased and the opposite is the case at St George's hospital. In fact Domestics and hostesses are already working flat out to cope with their huge workloads so the impact of a cut to their hours will lead to filth and chaos in the hospital.

"This bogus redundancy situation is part of the plan by Mitie to increase profit margins on this £150m long term outsourced contract at St George's hospital.

"GMB union members have sent clear message to their employer that they are not prepared to put up with cuts to cleaning in St George’s hospital. The workers have the full support of patients as these cuts will lead to domestic staff handling food which poses a cross infection risk to patients. Angry St George’s ward managers planned to raise the issue in senior level meetings today.

"GMB will leave no stone unturned to protect our members terms and conditions and services in St George’s hospital."

The request for permission to proceed to an official strike ballot in the dispute will be considered by the Regional Committee of GMB Southern Region at the next meeting.

June 27, 2019