Manchester nurses strike against health cuts

AROUND 250 mental health nurses took strike action on 31 January against cuts to jobs, services and the possible privatisation of four nursing teams. Nurses voted 9:1 for strike action, with a 95% solid strike with most nurses joining in the pickets and demonstration.

Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust claims a big deficit but says the cuts won't affect services. But the deficit could be wiped out with a fraction of the money wasted on implementing the "Making it Better" cuts. And both staff and mental health patients are quite clear: "reorganisation" will mean a worse service. The cuts include:

• Fewer nurses with higher caseloads, a freeze on recruiting nurses but 24 extra managers at a cost of £1.25 million!
• Downgrading of most nursing, occupational therapy and admin staff.
• Possibility of compulsory redundancies
• Possible privatisation of four community teams
• Closure of a south Manchester old age day centre and seven-day support team.

Trust bosses show no sign of backing off - this is a political agenda to run down and privatise services, coming from New Labour but supported by the other main parties.

So nurses are preparing for further strike action. Supported by "Keep Our NHS Public", to which they are affiliated, the nurses' union branch has called a "Defend the NHS" public meeting for 20 February.

For messages of support and donations, contact the UNISON Office, 70 Manchester Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 9UN. Campaign website: www.stopthecuts.co.nr

Hugh Caffrey, Manchester