Hospital workers union GMB will protest against the “poverty pay” of porters and other support staff at Watford General Hospital before today’s annual meeting.

The protest will take place before West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s annual general meeting at the Vicarage Road facility this afternoon.

GMB members working for multinational facilities provider Medirest will join Watford workers to protest against the perceived poor treatment of porters and cleaners at the hospital.

Medirest staff are paid minimum wage and in recent months relations between the workforce and the employer have reached breaking point following several high-profile incidents, according to the GMB.

One porter was suspended for seven weeks when he rolled up his trousers during a summer heatwave, while two others were suspended when they complained of health and safety issues.

So far the NHS trust - which employs Medirest - has not been involved in the dispute. 

However the GMB - which represents Medirest workers - wants to bring the matter to the attention of the meeting and ask the hospital to ensure that Medirest pays the rate for the job set out in the NHS pay rates. 

Michael Dooley, GMB local representative, said: “Porters are wheeling dead bodies for minimum wage, cleaners are told to clean vomit, urine and blood for minimum wage in an NHS hospital, while down the road Lidl is paying cleaners £9.75.

“It makes you wonder who really cares for the workers in these establishments.

“Medirest and the trust know that GMB members would not want to put patients at risk by going on strike, so we need to find other ways to raise our grievances, and this is why we hope the AGM will find time to consider our concerns and put things right.”

The trust added: "Like all NHS bodies, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust is always looking for best value from our suppliers. We are currently in contract negotiations with Medirest and we cannot comment until this process is concluded.