Security guards at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital held a strike rally against racial discrimination. It was happening after their employers refused to meet with them, according to their union.

The protester demands full NHS pay and terms and conditions, including annual leave, sick pay, parental leave, and career progression, in line with their colleagues at the well-known children’s hospital.

This is following a successful campaign by cleaners at the hospital to end outsourcing and receive NHS contracts in October, comes after the United Voices of the World (UVW) union accused hospital bosses of refusing to meet with union reps or workers.

The union warned that most of the security guards affected are black, minority ethnic (BME), and migrants, despite the hospital committing in June 2020 to do more to challenge racism, discrimination and “amplify the voice” of BME workers.

Minutes from a meeting of the hospital’s board in November last year also show that Chairman Matthew Shaw promised that action to “ensure that fairness and parity were achieved for all staff.” UVW general secretary Petros Elia said,

“Despite repeated attempts to talk to trustees, we have been met with silence. That’s why our members will be going on strike, which [the hospital] has had every opportunity to avert. And they will have our full support to fight for as long as it takes until they win what they deserve dignity and equality.”

A cross-party group of 14 MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, has signed an early day motion expressing concern at the workers’ treatment.