Caterers, security guards and porters will be among those walking out from 11am – 8pm on 30 and 31 January. They are 'angry that mean-spirited' Serco bosses are refusing to pay them a bonus that has been awarded to other NHS staff, said Unison.

A national pay deal agreed in June 2023 included two lump sum payments for NHS staff worth at least £1,655. Serco is refusing to pay the one-off bonuses, which Unison says means Great Western Hospital employees are being paid less than their colleagues in neighbouring hospitals for doing the same work.

Unison South West regional organiser Tom Kennedy-Hughes said: 'Serco's refusal to honour the NHS pay deal is deeply unfair and has left dedicated hospital workers struggling to make ends meet. Staff are not asking for a huge pay rise – they simply want to be paid the same as health workers elsewhere.

'Serco is set to post increased profits this year and there is no justification for denying its employees the same bonuses that have been paid to other NHS staff.'

He added: 'It's not too late for Serco to prevent further disruption. The company simply needs to treat its employees fairly.'