Doncaster care workers determined to win


Alistair Tice

Over 100 Doncaster Care UK workers, members of Unison, started their second seven-day strike on 19 March.

The strike was solid and has forced the company to put back the deadline for signing the buy-out agreement to 7 April and to say that staff will not lose their jobs if they don’t sign. During the strike, pickets publicly burnt the new contracts.

Last year, Doncaster Labour-led council awarded the Supported Living Service contract to the lowest bidder rather than continue with the NHS.

Care UK have torn up the TUPE transfer agreement and want to slash holidays, sick pay and unsociable hours payments, meaning an average pay cut of 35%. New staff are being employed on as little as the bare minimum wage!

Unison members balloted 97% in favour of strike action, the first seven days ending on 5 March.

This bold industrial action has inspired trade unionists around the country with donations pouring in from Unison and other trade union branches.

On 25 March strikers voted 95:1 to strike for 3 days and then four days in April.

Send messages of support to [email protected] and send donations/cheques, made out to ‘Doncaster, District & Bassetlaw Health Branch’, to Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster DN4 5GJ