14.08.2025 / News / St Helier and Epsom

Over 300 Hundred St Helier & Epsom hospital workers Vote 98% YES to Strike

NHS Inequality Sparks Revolt

“I’ll be out there on the picket line with my family by my side. Word about the ballot is spreading through the hospital, and the feeling is the same everywhere: we’re all ready to take action.”
Dennis Gyamfi, cleaner at Epsom Hospital and UVW member

Inequality has sparked a revolt in the NHS. Over 300 essential facilities workers at St Helier and Epsom hospitals, all UVW members and overwhelmingly from migrant and minority ethnic backgrounds, have delivered a historic ballot result, with an 81% turnout and 98% voting YES to strike action — a decisive escalation in their campaign for full equality in the NHS. This is the first time NHS workers have voted to strike to secure the basic NHS terms and conditions set out in Agenda for Change (AfC) contracts while being directly employed by the NHS. It is also the first strike in recent history at these two hospitals.

The cleaners, porters and caterers were brought back in-house over four years ago, but still have not been given AfC contracts. They are paid over £1 less per hour than NHS colleagues, get no enhancements for nights or weekends, have pension contributions of just 3% instead of the NHS standard of over 23%, and receive up to two weeks less annual leave. They also miss out on paid sick leave from day one and on the enhanced weekend and night pay that can boost NHS Band 2 wages to £20–£27 an hour.

“We’re one family,” says Alberta Bamfo Owiredua, cleaner at Epsom Hospital. “We need the AfC contracts. They’ve ignored us for too long. I am happy with the ballot results — we have to go for it.”

The demand is simple: full parity with AfC colleagues — equal wages, sick pay, pensions, and leave. For these workers, who clean wards, carry patients, serve food, and keep hospitals running, this is not about getting more than others, but about getting what’s rightfully theirs.

“This positive ballot result is the beginning of what’s to come,” says Leon Broughton, porter at St Helier Hospital. “The Trust refused to listen to us for too long, but we are proving that we are united and speaking with one voice. They can’t ignore us any longer. If they don’t listen to us now, we will go further.”

Their message has been made clear in the hospitals and at the Trust’s own board meeting, where they confronted management directly: enough of inequality, enough of exploitation, enough of waiting.

Watch the workers confront their bosses at the Board meeting!

“Brilliant result of a 98% YES to strike action,” adds Ian Parker, porter at St Helier Hospital. “This will send shivers down management’s spines. We’ve had no pay rises except London Living Wage increases, no enhancements for working after 8:00pm or at weekends, London weighting frozen since 2017, and no full NHS pensions. I’ll be proud to stand on the picket line.”

After four years of being ignored, sidelined, and treated as second-class, the workers are taking a stand. This overwhelming vote sends a message that can no longer be ignored. If the Trust won’t do the right thing, they will strike for the equality they deserve — and UVW will back them every step of the way until victory. Strike dates will be announced imminently.

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