'We are the NHS too'

Low-paid facilities staff from across London working for Barts NHS Trust demonstrated at the Department of Health in Westminster today (February 21).

Around 100 Unite members took to the streets of Westminster to highlight the failure of Barts Trust to honour its commitment to pay an NHS lump sum “thank you” payment for working during the pandemic. 

Cleaners, porters, security staff, domestic and other facilities staff are currently taking part in industrial action in their campaign to receive the lump sum payment, worth over £1600.

Staff brought mops and buckets to Westminster calling on Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt and Victoria Atkins to “clean up their mess” and give workers a fair wage.

Below are highlights from the demo in photos. You can also watch a short film featuring some of the striking staff here.

Photos by Mark Thomas