Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/442/5239
From The Socialist newspaper, 1 June 2006
Healthworkers say...
'Stop the NHS cuts, end low pay'
"LOW PAY no way." "They say cutback, we say fightback." Hundreds of
porters, cleaners and other hospital staff held a lively lunchtime
protest outside Whipps Cross hospital in northeast London on 26 May.
The hospital Trust is considering axing 400 jobs and closing four wards and two theatres. £15 million could be cut from primary care. The Trust is paying a 'turnaround' manager £1,200 a day to decide where the axe should fall! Patients, visitors and staff are being asked to write on a big suggestions board in the hospital to advise the turnaround team. "Turnaround and f*** off" was the choice advice of some staff.
Private company Rentokil/Initial have cynically jumped on the cuts bandwagon, announcing they are getting rid of five cleaning jobs and refusing to implement an agreement to improve the wages and conditions of ancillary workers.
LEN HOCKEY, a porter and joint branch secretary of the public sector UNISON at Whipps Cross told the socialist:
"This is what happens when the market and privatisation are introduced into the NHS.
We had a campaign in 2003 in conjunction with other health branches in northeast London to end the inequality of treatment of workers who work for the private sector and to have pay and conditions harmonisation with NHS staff. Whipps Cross took industrial action and we were successful and won an agreement.
We had a number of pay rises arising out of that and the full package was due to be delivered on 1 April. Rentokil/Initial, who have been in the contract for two years, admitted that it is incumbent on them to deliver this but they're dragging their feet and failing to do it - so we're mobilising members once more.
They're trying to boost profits off the backs of the lowest-paid workers, some of whom are on just £5.52 an hour and have no pension or sick pay rights. Porters and domestics are not the problem, we're the ones with the problems. We can't pay our rent, our council tax and our energy bills.
We're looking at the question of industrial action and we're putting pressure on the Trust who have given the contract to this company. The message is clear if they don't honour this agreement then they should be dismissed. They're in here, employing a predominantly female, black workforce and it's an outrage that they're treating people in this manner. When we don't do our job properly they're quick to come down and threaten us with all sorts. Rentokil/Initial should be sent packing and the hospital bring us back in-house if necessary.
Waltham Forest save our NHS campaign has been launched, uniting hospital staff and the local community. We are also linking up with similar campaigns that are happening all over the country and demanding that our union name the day for a national demonstration against the cuts. We will be doing everything we can to stop these attacks and secure our rights."
See also "We're seeing the Americanisation of the NHS"
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 1 June 2006:
Socialist Party NHS campaign
'Stop the NHS cuts, end low pay'
"We're seeing the Americanisation of the NHS"
Environment: Nuclear power
Socialist Party campaigns
Can the Tories win the next election?
A strategy to take on New Labour
International socialist news and analysis
Iraq - lame duck leaders have no solution
Brazil: Hundreds killed by brutal military police
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
Crisis in the Scottish Socialist Party
Socialist Party workplace news
PCS conference: The record of a campaigning union
Tesco goes west - with non-union job ads
Home | The Socialist 1 June 2006 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
