What did the NHS hospital workers at St George's, Epsom and St Helier demand?

The NHS hospital workers at St George's, Epsom and St Helier demanded the same pay and benefits as other NHS staff under the Agenda for Change (AfC) terms, which they had been denied for years.

How did the workers achieve their demands?

The workers achieved their demands by voting overwhelmingly (98%) to go on strike, which forced the hospital group to agree to implement full AfC contracts, including a pay rise, increased annual leave, and better pension contributions.

What impact will the new deal have on the workers' lives?

The new deal will have a significant positive impact on the workers' lives, as it will provide them with more money in their pockets and better benefits, such as increased holiday entitlement and improved pension contributions.

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

NHS Workers Secure Better Pay and Benefits After Threat of Strike

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.