The Socialist 12 January 2010

Decent jobs - not slave labour

Protest against bankers' bonuses

Leeds City Council Future Jobs Fund is no solution

Launch of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Labour's leadership crisis - time for a new workers' party

Global warming chills the north

The real cost this winter

Iceland debt crisis: Make the 'dirt bags' pay!

No to County Council cuts in Warwickshire!

Fast news

Corruption scandal grips Northern Ireland

Fujitsu workers say: "Enough is enough"

Signallers' strike spreads

Buses - privatisation means worse services

Teesside fight to save jobs

Twinings jobs meeting

Hospital workers battle on

Unison witch-hunt: Shock exposures at Employment Tribunal

Call centres: Union campaign makes important gains

Greece - on the edge of a volcano

Sri Lanka presidential elections: No to the two warmongers!

Israel: Instability, class polarisation and socialism

Chile - Freedom for Elena Varela

Hard chimes for Pompey

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/607/8687

Google search the site	Printable version	email to friend

Home | The Socialist 12 January 2010 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop

Hospital workers battle on

The poor weather conditions did little to diminish the determination of the strikers at North Devon District Hospital last week. The superbly organised picket drew a great deal of support from passing motorists, and even succeeded in turning back two lorries which were delivering non-essential goods to the hospital.

The workers, employed by Sodexo as hospital ancillary staff, were striking to force the Trust to abide by an agreement to give them the same pay and conditions as NHS-employed staff.

The Trust have been given the money to implement Agenda for Change (which ends two-tier terms and conditions), but they have failed to abide by the agreement. Now they have been forced to admit that they brought in Sodexo workers from other areas to try to break the strike - which didn't work.

Further action is being discussed and there will be a rally in Barnstaple on 16 January.

Jim Lowe

Messages of support and donations are urgently needed. Please send them to: North Devon Unison health branch: Bindy Sumner, Unison branch secretary, Suite 2, Munro House, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, North Devon.