Home / Health / NHS Workers Secure Better Pay and Benefits After Threat of Strike
NHS Workers Secure Better Pay and Benefits After Threat of Strike
16 Nov
Summary
- Over 330 low-paid NHS workers voted to strike for better terms
- Workers denied same conditions as other NHS staff, lost millions in pay
- New deal includes pay rise, increased holiday, and improved pensions
In a significant victory for low-paid NHS workers, hundreds of cleaners, caterers, and porters at the St George's, Epsom and St Helier hospital group (GESH) have secured improved terms and conditions following the threat of strike action.
As of November 16th, 2025, more than 330 workers, representing 98% of those balloted, had voted to strike over the differential pay and benefits they had been denied compared to other NHS staff. These in-house facilities workers, who are mostly from minority ethnic communities, had been systematically excluded from the NHS's Agenda for Change (AfC) terms, resulting in millions of pounds lost in pay and benefits over the years.
However, the workers' collective action has paid off. On November 6th, 2025, the GESH board approved proposals to implement full AfC contracts for the facilities staff, granting them a pay rise of over £2,000, increased annual leave, and better pension contributions. The union representing the workers, United Voices of the World, has hailed this as a testament to the power of workers standing together to demand fair treatment.
The new deal is set to take effect from April 2026, significantly improving the financial situation and quality of life for these essential NHS workers who have long been undervalued and underpaid.
