A PROTEST was called today ahead of a crunch vote on bringing 300 outsourced hospital support staff back in-house.

Campaigners were set to rally outside Homerton Hospital in Hackney, east London, this evening ahead of a vote by its council of governors.

Half of the 22-strong council is understood to be in favour of insourcing cleaning, catering and maintenance staff currently employed by multinational contractor ISS, whose contract expires next year.

The council provides an advisory role for the NHS trust’s directors, ensuring they meet the needs of the local community.

Nearly 300 people have signed a petition raising concerns over ISS contracts being substantially worse than those of directly employed NHS staff.

The rally will be in support of a Unison campaign calling on the company to pay its employees a so-called Covid-bonus payment of £1,655, which staff directly employed by the NHS have received.

The trust has been contacted for comment.