Key Points
- Strike Action: Dozens of staff members at the North London NHS Foundation Trust’s Chase Farm Hospital site in Enfield have initiated strike action.
- Employer: The staff are employed by the private outsourcing giant ISS, providing essential facilities services including catering, cleaning, and security.
- Union Representation: Workers are represented by the GMB Union.
- Reasons for Dispute: The industrial action follows months of failed negotiations regarding working practices, workplace culture, equalisation of terms with NHS staff, and demands for union recognition.
- Allegations: Staff have reported serious concerns, including bullying, toxic workplace culture, instances of alleged racism, unmanageable workloads, and failure to pay correct bank holiday overtime.
- Ballot Result: Employees voted 95% in favour of rejecting the latest offer from ISS and maintaining strike action.
- Action Dates: The walkout commenced on Tuesday, 15th July, continuing through the remainder of the week, with further action planned for three days starting Wednesday, 22nd July.
Enfield (The Londoner News) July 16, 2026 – Dozens of staff members employed by outsourcing giant ISS have walked out on strike at the North London NHS Foundation Trust’s Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield. The industrial action, which began on Tuesday, 15th July, follows a breakdown in long-running negotiations between the GMB Union and the employer over grievances that include pay, workplace culture, and staff treatment. Workers have expressed deep dissatisfaction, with 95% of members voting to reject the latest offer provided by ISS.
Why have the staff at Chase Farm Hospital decided to strike?
The decision to take strike action stems from a series of unresolved grievances that have been building for over a year. As reported by the Barnet Post, the dispute centres on several fundamental issues, including the “equalisation of terms” with directly employed NHS staff, the formal recognition of the GMB Union, and serious concerns regarding internal working practices.
Beyond contractual and pay-related concerns, the situation is compounded by allegations of a “toxic” environment. According to the Enfield Dispatch, staff have levelled serious accusations against management, ranging from bullying and intimidation to reports of racist comments directed at employees. Furthermore, workers have highlighted frustrations over unmanageable workloads caused by shifts in working patterns and a failure to address formal grievances, some of which have allegedly taken months to resolve.
One GMB member, as quoted by the Enfield Dispatch, described the atmosphere on site: “We are exhausted. Every day I have someone coming to me crying. ISS have treated their hardworking staff with contempt”.
What is the GMB Union’s stance on the dispute?
The GMB Union has taken a firm position, asserting that the industrial action is a last resort after ISS failed to engage meaningfully with the workforce’s concerns.
As reported by Jack Phipps, a GMB regional organiser, in an account covered by GMB London, the union maintains that ISS has shown a disregard for its employees. Mr. Phipps stated: “ISS have shown no respect for their workers and have repeatedly failed to make a reasonable offer to meet their concerns, leaving our members with no choice but to take strike action”.
Mr. Phipps further emphasised the timeline of the dispute, noting that the collective grievance was first raised more than a year ago. He argued that the company has had ample time to facilitate productive dialogue. “Our members’ message to ISS is clear: show staff the respect they deserve by getting back round the table and meaningfully addressing the serious issues members have raised,” Mr. Phipps added.
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How is the North London NHS Foundation Trust responding to the strikes?
The North London NHS Foundation Trust, which outsources its catering, cleaning, and security services to ISS, has acknowledged the industrial action and stated that it is implementing measures to minimise disruption to patient care.
In a statement previously provided to the Enfield Dispatch and the Barnet Post, a spokesperson for the Trust said: “We are aware that ISS staff providing facilities services at Chase Farm Hospital have voted to take industrial action in July. We are working closely with ISS to ensure appropriate plans are in place to minimise any disruption, and these will be kept under constant review in the lead up to and during the period of industrial action”.
The Trust has placed a heavy emphasis on safety during this period. “Our priority is to maintain safe, high-quality patient care, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure services continue to operate safely during this period,” the spokesperson added.
What is the timeline for the ongoing strike action?
The strike action commenced on Tuesday, 15th July, and is scheduled to continue for the remainder of this week. According to reports from GMB London, the action is currently planned for the dates of 15th–17th July and 22nd–24th July.
Union representatives have indicated that this schedule is subject to change, with further dates potentially being announced should the dispute remain unresolved. As of the time of reporting, ISS has not yet provided a formal response or a new counter-offer that has satisfied the demands of the workforce.
The situation remains fluid as both the union and the outsourcing firm face pressure to resume negotiations to address the concerns of the staff, whose roles are vital to the daily operation of the Chase Farm Hospital site.
