Hospital staff back sacked steward


KOLA SHOKUNBI’s appeal against his dismissal from his job
at Whipps Cross hospital in east London has been adjourned for the management
to consider representations from UNISON.

Kola’s UNISON branch lobbied the appeal hearing on 6 May
and got a good response from other hospital staff. Whilst the appeal was going
on, a film crew from UNISON was in the hospital making a video for use when
Waltham Forest health branch collects a national award. They have won first
prize for recruitment and organisation. The crew filmed the lobby of Kola’s
appeal, which created quite an impression in the appeal and around the
hospital.

Kola is a UNISON steward. He was sacked by Initial
Hospital Services with allegations, which he denies, that he shouted at a
manager.

His UNISON branch is convinced that Kola’s sacking is
related to the role he played in securing a ground-breaking pay deal for
workers employed by private companies at the hospital. The deal won pay and
conditions parity with NHS workers doing the same jobs as those working for
companies like Initial.

Please send messages of support to: [email protected]

 and urgent protest messages to: Richard Cockerton,
HR manager, Initial Hospital Services: [email protected]

 and Peter Coles,
Chief Executive, Whipps Cross University Hospital Trust: [email protected]