HUNDREDS of outsourced NHS key workers are set to walk out on strike for two weeks today in a rebellion against rip-off wages paid by private profiteers.

The strike by porters, security, catering and reception staff at St Barts, Royal London and Whipps Cross hospitals in London, employed by Serco, marks a growing fightback by outsourced NHS workers against privateers.

Unite said that the mainly black, Asian and ethnic minority staff are paid up to 15 per cent less than directly employed NHS workers.

Workers roundly rejected Serco’s latest derisory pay offer of just 3 per cent. Inflation (RPI) leapt to 7.5 per cent this week.

Serco Group PLC had a turnover of £3.9 billion according to the latest figures available, according to the union.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “These workers face the same risks as NHS-employed staff but they are paid significantly worse and treated disgracefully.

“Barts Health NHS Trust have a golden opportunity to bring these workers, employed by Serco not the NHS, back into NHS employment.

“It’s time to end the injustice of a two-tier workforce. Unite is 100 per cent behind our members’ battle against low pay and exploitation.”

Unite regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “Our members have worked tirelessly through the pandemic, they deserve better. 

“Serco and Barts need to deliver a pay increase that addresses the poor pay and the inequality of treatment compared to directly employed NHS staff at other hospitals in London.”

In another fightback today, outsourced porters and cleaners at Croydon University Hospital will protest at noon after employer G4S refused to pay sick pay to workers absent after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Croydon workers are members of general union GMB, and the union has demanded Croydon NHS Trust cancel G4S’s contract.

GMB said G4S’s refusal to pay sick pay is “a massive risk to public health.”

The union’s regional officer Helen O’Connor warned that strike action could follow.

She said: “Workers reported that they are afraid to go into the Covid wards in case they pick up the illness and are unable to work because they won’t get a penny from G4S.

“Some have gone off sick with injuries and G4S has not paid statutory sick pay.

“One worker was left at home struggling with breathing difficulties for weeks with no money.

“The poverty pay also known as the minimum wage left one woman crying when she moved home and she was faced with an electric bill for £150. 

“Our hard-working members are sick and tired of being abused and exploited by G4S.

“They are on poverty pay and to add insult to injury they are being denied wages if they come down with Covid.

“These members have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic at great risk to themselves and their families and they are demanding fair sick pay so that they do not put patients at risk from cross-infection.

“If G4S is not willing to ensure that their staff and patients are as safe as possible during a pandemic, they cannot continue to hold the contract.”

The St Barts strikers and supporters are picketing the Royal London (Whitechapel Road), Whipps Cross (Whipps Cross Road), and St Bart’s (Little Britain) Hospitals from 5.30am to 11am, Monday to Saturday.

Today they will hold a rally at Royal London Hospital at 11am. Speakers will include Labour MP John McDonnell.

Shane DeGaris, deputy group chief executive at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Over the next 13 months we will be considering future arrangements of the facilities management contract, which could include bringing some services back in-house.”

Taddy McAuley, Serco’s contract director for Barts Health, said: “We are extremely disappointed with the notification of strike action from Unite as we recently increased the pay offer for our employees to a total of 3 per cent, backdated to April 2021.

“This is the same percentage increase as that being received by people directly employed by the NHS.”

A G4S spokesperson said: “The wellbeing of our staff is paramount. Our employees receive sick pay as per their contractual terms and in line with all government and Acas guidelines. Employees who have not been able to attend work due to Covid-19 have received full pay.”