MORE than 130 workers at Royal Liverpool Hospital launched two weeks of strike action yesterday, demanding they be paid a “Covid bonus” in recognition of the stress they faced during the pandemic.

The walkout by porters, cleaners and caterers, who are members of general union GMB, follows 18 previous days of strike action.

In November last year, the NHS agreed to pay staff a bonus of at least £1,655 in recognition of their stress during the pandemic in 2020-21.