Protest of Homerton hospital ISS workers on 25 August 2016, photo Clare Doyle

Protest of Homerton hospital ISS workers on 25 August 2016, photo Clare Doyle   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Workers and unions at Homerton hospital, east London are celebrating a major victory: winning NHS sick pay for all staff working for private contractor ISS.

More than half of cleaning, catering, portering and security staff have had to rely on statutory sick pay. That’s just over £95 a week.

A long-running campaign has won several victories, including pay increases to the London Living Wage and above. But proper sick pay for all staff is the biggest yet.

Naomi Byron, co-secretary of the Homerton branch of public service union Unison, said: “This is a huge relief for staff to win occupational sick pay, and it’s thanks to all the staff who stood together and fought so hard for our rights that we have won this major victory.”

The campaign will continue for all staff employed by ISS to receive full NHS pay and conditions, and to be brought back in-house.

Brian Debus, Hackney Socialist Party