The Socialist

The Socialist 11 June 2008

Stop the NHS sell-off


Stop the NHS sell-off

Banking on NHS profits

My pain - and privatisation


Racist BNP have no solutions!


Will Obama win?

Obama declares victory, and shifts to the right


"Anti-terror" laws are no solution


Stirring rally backs Tommy Sheridan

Unison witch-hunt hits Northern Ireland


Come to the Campaign for a New Workers' Party Conference

New Labour's parallel universe

Waltham Forest protest

Them & Us


Underfunding youth facilities: It makes no sense!


Oil price shock - the chaos of capitalism

Sudan's poor paying the price for oil

Fast news


Immortal Technique at the Coronet, London 4 June 2008


Usdaw needs a fighting leadership

Organise to fight the public-sector pay robbery

National Shop Stewards Network second conference

Fujitsu workers strike to save jobs

The costs of privatisation

Brighton bus drivers strike

 
 
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The costs of privatisation

Street cleaners and park workers in the London Borough of Waltham Forest have had their jobs contracted out to Kier, a large company which includes privatised services amongst its portfolio. They are still fighting to maintain their salaries in a battle over the implementation of the 'single status' job evaluation scheme. Now they are facing more attacks in the very first week of contracting out.

First of all, stewards were told that they could not attend any union meetings. The union soon knocked that back as it was part of the TUPE transfer agreement.

But there is now intense anger, as managers have told the workers that there will be no overtime. This could be worth £125 a week for some of these low-paid workers.

In addition, Kier has told all agency workers they would not be wanted, so that a greatly reduced workforce has to do all the work in shorter hours for less pay!

There is great suspicion that a rundown of the service is being proposed by local managers, in the hope of getting favours from the Labour-Lib Dem council. In the meantime, workers want pressure put on council leader Clyde Loakes.

It would be wrong for Kier to underestimate these workers. After all, they took unofficial action earlier this year when the threat of wage cuts from single status was on the cards. Union members are drawing their own conclusions about what needs to be done.

Kevin Parslow

In this issue


Socialist Party NHS campaign

Stop the NHS sell-off

Banking on NHS profits

My pain - and privatisation


Anti-racism

Racist BNP have no solutions!


Socialist Party editorial

Will Obama win?

Obama declares victory, and shifts to the right


Socialist Party campaigns

"Anti-terror" laws are no solution


Defend Tommy Sheridan

Stirring rally backs Tommy Sheridan

Unison witch-hunt hits Northern Ireland


Campaign for a New Workers Party

Come to the Campaign for a New Workers' Party Conference

New Labour's parallel universe

Waltham Forest protest

Them & Us


Socialist Party youth and students

Underfunding youth facilities: It makes no sense!


Socialist Party feature

Oil price shock - the chaos of capitalism

Sudan's poor paying the price for oil

Fast news


Socialist Party review

Immortal Technique at the Coronet, London 4 June 2008


Socialist Party workplace news

Usdaw needs a fighting leadership

Organise to fight the public-sector pay robbery

National Shop Stewards Network second conference

Fujitsu workers strike to save jobs

The costs of privatisation

Brighton bus drivers strike


 

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Related links:

Privatisation:

trianglePCS members fight Land Registry privatisation

triangleNHS WARNING! Privatisation puts patients at risk

triangleLand Registry: Fight Con-Dems' privatisation plans

triangleFight the destruction of our NHS across England and Wales

trianglePictures: demonstration against privatisation at Sussex university

Single status:

triangleSingle status appeal: Victory for Vine workers

triangleNo to pay cuts in Carmarthenshire

triangleNottingham city council: Shocking new cuts!

triangleIndustrial action works