CLEANING, catering, domestic and portering staff providing vital services to Kingston and Richmond NHS Trust gathered outside Kingston Hospital today to protest against their employer Mitie.

The private contractor took over responsibility for the workers’ contracts from ISS in April 2026.

But GMB members have complained about several issues since, including members not being paid correctly or on time and an inadequate sick pay scheme.

GMB regional organiser Ashley Roach-McFarlane said the union has “major concerns” that a planned merger with private equity giant OCS will “further diminish pay, terms and conditions of service, as we have seen elsewhere in London during our dispute with OCS across South London and Maudsley NHS sites.”

“Our members are calling on Mitie and Kingston and Richmond NHS to get around the table and negotiate a fair deal for these vital hospital staff,” she said.

“It is often the lowest-paid staff that bear the brunt and responsibility of shouldering the pressures of patient care and it’s high time Mitie started treating their workers with dignity and respect or they will have even more mess to clean up.”

“We are proud of the vital role our colleagues play in supporting patients, visitors and NHS staff at Kingston Hospital every day, and we take any concerns they raise seriously.”