Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/492/2527
From The Socialist newspaper, 21 June 2007
Blood centre workers fight job cuts plan
ON 15 June, protests took place outside blood centres, by trade unionists opposed to the proposed reorganisation. Over 20 angry staff mounted a lively protest at Manchester's Blood Centre. Gill Moran, UNISON branch secretary told Hugh Caffrey how the 'strategic plan' cuts will endanger people's lives:
"We're opposing the strategic plan which we've not even been consulted on.
"We estimate that in the next couple of years, there will be 700 job losses throughout the country, many of them compulsory redundancies.
"We feel this will put patients' lives at risk, it will compromise the product that saves lives. If the service goes to three super-centres, how will they transfer blood round the country with the road system we've got now?
"People will rely on blood to come from a centre miles away, and with the state of the roads it will put their lives at risk. We want management to look again at the strategic plan. If they don't then the unions will ballot for industrial action."
Although Manchester is one of the proposed 'super-centres', staff will be on a crazy shift system and many will lose their jobs. Yorkshire centres will be shut.
"Why should staff here," asked Andy Ford, Amicus rep and Socialist Party member, "accept redundancies and worse hours just so the Blood Service can sack people in other blood centres?
"At the same time there are more managers, and management consultants get £1,200 a day to advise top managers!
"Directors are on £85-100k and there are more of them than ever before. What we need is to pull everything together nationally, and build a massive turnout for the anti-NHS cuts demonstration on 13 October."
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In The Socialist 21 June 2007:
New PM... same old Bosses' agenda
Brown stresses 'continuity' with Blair
Manchester council swings the axe
Workplace news
Postal and post office workers demand action
National shop stewards' network
Workers must fight Ford sell-off plans
UNISON Leadership get a roasting from angry delegates
Greenwich UNISON wins concessions
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Stop Hatchet Hewitt's NHS plans now
Blood centre workers fight job cuts plan
Socialist Party news and analysis
Something for everyone at the summer camp
How Cadbury's keeps shareholders sweet...
War and terrorism
Palestinian infighting blows apart 'national unity' government
Socialist students and ISR
Have Scottish students got free education?
Workplace news and analysis
Deskilling and destaffing - Tube bosses' dream
PCS leadership recommends new deal to members
Global Warming
Turning the tide for alternative energy
International socialist news
South Africa - third week for public-sector strike
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