No to NHS outsourcing, photo Mary Finch

No to NHS outsourcing, photo Mary Finch   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Nigel Smith, York Socialist Party

Unite members working at York NHS trust have voted by a massive majority (92.6% on a 57% turnout) to strike against the trust’s plan to transfer them to a ‘limited liability company’ (LLC) – a step toward privatisation.

A rolling campaign of action across the trust – which covers York, Selby, Scarborough, Bridlington, and Malton hospitals – is currently under discussion, with initial strike dates set for 27 and 28 of September.

A similar move to outsource the workforce at Mid Yorkshire NHS trust was stopped in its tracks after Unison members there voted for strike action.

Management, who want to steamroller through the LLC by 1 October, have refused to engage union reps in any meaningful dialogue, instead citing ‘commercial confidentiality’.

The trust’s intransigence has, however, not cowed union members. Mal Richardson, Unite shop steward and Socialist Party member, commented: “If they discipline me, I’ll be on the picket line.

“If they bully me, I’ll still be on the picket line. And if they sack me, I will come back to haunt them.”

Socialist Party members have for several months been involved in leading resistance to the LLC, helping to initiate a steering group, along with union reps and other activists, and organising a street petition of over 3,000 signatures.