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From: The Socialist issue 917, 21 September 2016: #KeepCorbyn: Kick out the Tories and the Blairites
Search site for keywords: Unions - Doctors - NHS - living wage - Health - Cinema - London - Bectu - Brixton - BMA
Workplace news in brief
Cinema workers in Bectu at the Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton, striking for the London Living Wage in 2015 (Click to enlarge)
Junior doctors
Junior doctors, who are set to strike again in October as part of their ongoing contract dispute, have taken the fight to the High Court in the meantime. A group called 'Justice For Health' mounted the legal challenge, accusing Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt of acting outside his powers. The contract is due to be rolled out from next month with the next strike dates set for 5, 6 and 7 October and then 10-11 October. Despite a £2.45 billion deficit in the NHS in 2015-16, the government is insisting on imposing a contract that seeks to stretch non-emergency services from five days to seven with no extra funding.
The BMA will not accept this and adequate funding for the new contract is now a major demand. And it is clear that this new contract is not only an attack on junior doctors, but on the NHS as a whole.
The Socialist Party calls for coordinated action with other health unions against privatisation and cuts to the NHS. The Trade Union Congress should call a national demonstration in support of the doctors and in defence of the NHS.
Ritzy strikes back
Members of Bectu, the entertainment union, who work at the Ritzy cinema in Brixton will be striking from midday on 24 September. Workers at the cinema have been engaged in a long campaign to win the London Living Wage of £9.40 an hour. But Picturehouse Cinemas, who made a £99 million profit in 2015, have rejected the claim and refused to negotiate with the union, rejecting the chance for talks at Acas.
The current minimum rate at the Ritzy is £8.80. In 2014 Bectu members fought a long and successful campaign (including 13 strikes) in pursuit of the London Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. Other demands include company sick pay for all plus maternity and paternity pay.
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