SECURITY guards at St George’s medical school in London are striking today for the first time, demanding an end to “second-class” contracts with outsourcing giant Noonan.

The 25 guards, who are largely black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), are demanding to be employed directly by St George’s, University of London, in Tooting, south London.

Under their contract with Noonan, the workers are paid less than the lowest-paid in-house staff and only receive the statutory minimum in sick pay and other conditions.