Guys and St Thomas’ staff protest against jobs cull

Members of Unite employed at the Guys and St Thomas NHS Trust are protesting today against plans to cut jobs from the in the Essentia in-house facilities and capital development team.

According to Unite, under the trust’s plans the in-house team covering facilities and capital development – including roles such as fire safety, water quality, major projects, maintenance and minor construction work – will be reduced from 154 roles to just 64. 

Workers in the division will be required to reapply for their jobs, with many of the new posts being paid at a lower rate.

Sharon Graham, general secretary at Unite, said: “Guys and St Thomas is acting disgracefully towards its workers who are vital to keep its hospitals functioning. Its management should be ashamed.

“This so called reorganisation is nothing more than a bonanza for consultants, with outsourcers hitting the jackpot, while the actual staff doing the work are downgraded or thrown on the scrapheap.

“Unite entire focus is on protecting the jobs, pay and conditions of its members and the workers at Guys and St Thomas will have the union’s complete support.”

The Guys and St Thomas trust includes Guy’s, St Thomas, Evelina London Children’s, Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals, as well as 100 community sites across Lambeth and Southwark where outpatient, diagnostic and primary care services are provided.

According to Unite, the cuts could jeopardise patient and staff safety.

Tabasum Ahmed, regional officer at Unite, said: “These plans are bad news for workers, for patients and the local community.

“Rather than save money, it will result in NHS money disappearing into the pockets of spivs and privateers.

“The trust needs to drop its madcap scheme and return to the negotiating table to agree a sensible way forward while it contends with funding challenges.”

A spokesperson for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are currently engaged in a consultation process with a number of colleagues from Essentia who provide non-clinical capital and estates services at the Trust.

“We are committed to working in partnership with our trade unions, and will address any issues raised with us through the appropriate channels.”