Strikes by South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust estates staff will escalate this week over unequal pay, Unite, the UK’s leading union, said today.

The workers, including joiners, electricians, plumbers and painter and decorators, are on different pay grades – ranging from band three to band five.

Some workers are on band three despite doing exactly the same job as colleagues on band five and having worked in those roles for up to 25 years.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “The trust’s two-tier workforce must end. Workers doing the same job must be equally paid. Unite fully supports these workers in taking strike action to end this injustice.”

Unite raised concerns about the trust’s controversial director of strategic performance Kathryn Magson, who has responsibility for estates.

Ms Magson was previously the Isle of Man’s department of health and social care executive director. During an employment tribunal for the wrongful dismissal of the island’s former chief medic for whistleblowing during Covid, judges described Ms Magson as ‘spiteful’ and ‘self-serving’ and said her behaviour in misleading the tribunal was ‘inexcusable’.

In her current role, a number of staff have reported to Unite that they consider Ms Magson's management style to be bullying. Under Ms Magson’s leadership, the trust is also insisting that 70 per cent of staff agreed during consultations to changes that meant they have to hold an NVQ Level Three to receive equal pay. This claim is untrue, which is why 97 per cent of workers voted in favour of strike action.

Unite regional officer Maz Ebrahim said: “Unite is concerned about the leadership of Kathryn Magson due to deteriorating industrial relations. Strikes will not stop until the trust tells the truth, treats these workers with respect and puts forward an acceptable solution to unequal pay.”

The workers previously took strike action in late July and early August, resulting in disruption to estates and maintenance services at Bethlam Royal, Lambeth, Lewisham and Maudsley hospitals.

The next strike action, including an on-call ban, is scheduled to begin at 16:30 hrs on 25 August, ending at 00:15 hrs on 31 August. The picket line will be held at Denmark Hill, outside the Maudsley Hospital, on 26, 27 and 28 August from 11:30 hrs.

Strike action, including an on-call ban, will then resume at 16:30 hrs on 1 Sept and ending at 07:59 hrs on 7 September. During this period, the picket line will be held at Denmark Hill, outside the Maudsley Hospital, on 2, 3 and 4 September from 10:00 hrs.

ENDS

For media enquires ONLY contact senior Unite communications officer Ryan Fletcher on 07849 090215 or 020 3371 2065.

Email: ryan.fletcher@unitetheunion.org

Unite is Britain and Ireland’s largest union with members working across all sectors of the economy. The general secretary is Sharon Graham.