WORKERS at a private hospital in central London have won an end to “exploitative outsourcing,” their union announced today.

The Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) said cleaners, caterers and housekeeping staff at London Bridge Hospital will now be brought in-house from April 2023 after a campaign launched earlier this year.

The site’s parent company HCA — the world’s largest private healthcare provider — has been forced to concede the move after multiple demonstrations against its “discriminatory two-tier system of employment” hit the firm’s offices, according to the union.  

The majority-migrant workers, who worked all through the pandemic on “sub-living wage pay and without proper sick pay, faced severe health and safety concerns including inadequate [personal protective equipment] provision and improper training,” IWGB charged.

They are currently employed by contractor the Compass Group, which was heavily criticised last year for providing “sparse” free school meals to children.

Employee Marino said: “Despite risking our lives during the pandemic, we were treated like second-class citizens.

“We were forced to take on extra work and faced bad management from subcontractors who refused to listen to our safety concerns.

“Moving in-house is a big step forward in improving our working conditions, but with the rising cost of living, we are still struggling to support ourselves.

“We want to build a future for our families, so we will continue to organise and fight for the pay we deserve.”

IWGB general secretary Henry Chango Lopez praised his members for “coming together and campaigning for an end to this injustice.”

He called on other outsourced employees across Britain to do the same. 

An HCA spokesperson said: “We are pleased to be welcoming employees to HCA UK and will be working with Compass over the transition period, which is ongoing.”