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From The Socialist newspaper, 5 August 2020
Sick pay victory at Homerton hospital!
Protest of Homerton hospital ISS workers on 25 August 2016, photo Clare Doyle (Click to enlarge)
Workers and unions at Homerton hospital, east London are celebrating a major victory: winning NHS sick pay for all staff working for private contractor ISS.
More than half of cleaning, catering, portering and security staff have had to rely on statutory sick pay. That's just over £95 a week.
A long-running campaign has won several victories, including pay increases to the London Living Wage and above. But proper sick pay for all staff is the biggest yet.
Naomi Byron, co-secretary of the Homerton branch of public service union Unison, said: "This is a huge relief for staff to win occupational sick pay, and it's thanks to all the staff who stood together and fought so hard for our rights that we have won this major victory."
The campaign will continue for all staff employed by ISS to receive full NHS pay and conditions, and to be brought back in-house.
Brian Debus, Hackney Socialist Party
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 5 August 2020:
News
From first wave to second? Capitalism's Covid failures
Capitalism's 'vaccine war' shows need for socialist cooperation
Tories' obesity plans - blaming individuals not the profit system
What we think
Labour payouts: unions must discuss political representation
Workplace news
Wales: GE Aviation workers march to save jobs
PCS union: Reject longer DWP opening hours
'First you clap us then you slap us': hundreds march for NHS pay rise
Sick pay victory at Homerton hospital!
Unite union branch pledges to support socialist candidates who oppose cuts
Oppose BT site closures - national strike ballot needed
No going back
What would socialist universities look like?
International
Cuba: Covid-19 and the 60-year-old embargo
Anniversary of nuclear destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
80 years since the murder of Leon Trotsky rally
Campaigns
A-level results day 2020: Fight for our future!
Fighting to end racism and capitalism
North London: Socialist Party speaks at BLM protest
Doncaster: Vigil for murdered women
Engage for Change Hull - trade union youth festival goes online
Campaign stalls on jobs, pay, NHS and racism
Why I joined - Covid changed my outlook
Socialist Party meetings: Online and in-person
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