Doncaster Care UK strikers outside Bridgepoint , May 2014, photo by A Tice

Doncaster Care UK strikers outside Bridgepoint, May 2014, photo by A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

“No surrender” say Doncaster Care UK workers after 34 strike days

Alistair Tice

Wow – what a fortnight! The Doncaster Care UK workers have just finished a further two weeks of strike action (making a total of 34 days of strikes so far). Over the last 14 days, the strikers have turned a local dispute into one of national significance.

“The Angry Mob” have toured the country. They have spoken at meetings from Scotland to Bristol. They have picketed Care UK offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Newcastle.

A coachful descended on Care UK’s head office in Essex and another hit Bridgepoint (the private equity company that owns Care UK) in London. Petitions were presented to Downing Street.

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, visited the Doncaster picket line pledging 100% support. Strikers were invited to Unison head office where they got tea and biscuits and met with Christina McAnea, Unison’s Head of Health.

The fortnight was rounded off with a 200-strong demonstration through Doncaster on Saturday 17 May.

The election of a strike committee and new shop stewards has strengthened the leadership of the dispute and given it more organisation and direction.

At the strikers’ rally yesterday, there was never any doubt that they would vote for further strike action. With hashtags like “No Surrender” and “Intilltheend” the determination of around 90 strikers has never been greater.

They feel that they have already won a victory because they are standing up against the privatisation of the NHS and against massive pay cuts of 35%; and also standing up for their ‘family’ of service users, adults with learning difficulties, whose care is already suffering at the hands of ‘Don’t Care UK’ privateers.

Dave Prentis on the picket line with the Doncaster Care UK strikers, May 2014, photo by A Tice

Dave Prentis on the picket line with the Doncaster Care UK strikers, May 2014, photo by A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

The strike meeting voted for another two weeks strike next month, but the strikers need and demand that the words of support from Unison be turned into action. As one of the shop stewards, Dave Mycock, said at the meeting: “We want more than tea and biscuits!”

The Doncaster Unison Health branch motion that was sent to the union’s national industrial action committee holds the key to winning the dispute. Unison nationally must mobilise all its resources of finance, organisers and activists to declare war on Care UK all over the country wherever they operate or have contracts.

More pressure will be applied on Doncaster’s Labour mayor and council, who whilst not responsible for the privatisation last year (it was the previous English Democrat administration!) should, as expelled-from-Labour anti-cuts Hull councillor Dean Kirk said at Saturday’s demo, bring the contract back in-house with the NHS.

If that is done, the Care UK workers could win a famous victory which could start to roll back the tide of pay cuts and privatisation and give confidence to millions of other workers that if you stand and fight, you can win. There is no doubt that this group of inspiring workers deserve that victory.

  • Requests for speakers, messages of support and donations to the hardship fund: [email protected] Donations/cheques made out to: “Doncaster, District & Bassetlaw Health Branch”, send to: Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster, DN4 5GJ.
  • Visit FaceBook “Doncaster Supported Living Unison Strike” page.
Doncaster Care UK strikers, May 2014, photo A Tice

Doncaster Care UK strikers, May 2014, photo A Tice   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)


Mags Cowling’s speech to Doncaster Care UK strike demo on Saturday 17 May

Hi, my name is Mags Cowling and I am a Doncaster Care UK striker (and newly elected Unison shop steward).

We were previously employed by the NHS until last year when we were put out for tender and handed to a company called Care UK. If the tender had been won on the level of care, the NHS would have won hands down.

But it was with great sadness that we were turned over in September 2013, to a company who say they needed to make cuts even though they are a multi-million pound organisation owned by Bridgepoint, a private equity company. If they needed to make savage cuts and couldn’t run it on the budget, then why take the contract on?

Two months into the contract, Care UK dropped the bombshell. There would have to be changes to our terms and conditions and yes, you’ve guessed it, the frontline workers would face the savage cuts which included 35% cuts to pay, and sickness and holidays being cut as well.

The workers were balloted and voted 98% in favour of industrial action. We are currently on our fifth round of strike action (just completed 34 days of strikes so far)! Negotiations have taken place with Care UK but with no movement except a 14 month transitional payment of enhancements; but when asked what are we supposed to do after, the reply given was “Learn to budget!”

Also it was agreed that our senior managers would be given a rise of £2,000 a year. Nice timing Care UK!

So again we fight back, saying “Enough is enough” and we the strikers will not lay down and roll over while they cut our wages to make profit for themselves and shareholders!

We care for some of the most vulnerable people in society who are not just our service users but are also our family. Some who do not have a voice but we will be their voice and say ‘care before profit’ every time.

We also say shame on this government for ever allowing the privatisation of our beloved NHS. The NHS belongs to the people and should stay with the people, not sold off to make profit, it’s criminal that this is allowed to happen. Remembering of course what our forefathers fought wars for, to give us a welfare service.

It’s time to reclaim our NHS back.

Care UK highlight on their webpage how they value their dedicated, experienced, skilled staff from the NHS who transferred over – Yeah right! They ‘value’ so much they are cutting our wages and in some cases people will even lose their homes, and why? All so they can make their profit and give themselves bigger houses, nicer cars, better holidays whilst causing suffering to those paying for it.

Skilled staff will be forced to leave jobs they have loved doing for years and be replaced by unskilled inexperienced staff, some of whom haven’t even been CRB checked, but allowed to look after vulnerable service users, while being paid minimum wages including some on zero hours contracts!

So we the Care UK strikers ask for the support and backing of the unions and all over the country to fight back at this government and all they stand for. They and the bankers are to blame for the state this country is in yet it is the working class made to pay for it every time.

What do our future generations have if we don’t stand together united as one, saying “enough is enough”.

No to cuts, no to privatisation, save our NHS. Solidarity!

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 19 May 2014 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.