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From The Socialist newspaper, 18 October 2017
North London hospital workers fight cuts and job losses
NHS workers on strike elsewhere - at Barts Trust in east London, 15.7.17, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Paul Kershaw, North London Socialist Party
Porters and domestics - members of the GMB union - at the North Middlesex hospital, facing the threat of redundancies and pay cuts, organised a spirited protest with a barbecue outside the hospital on 12 October.
Following the takeover of their service by profit-hungry contractor Medirest (healthcare division of the Compass group) in June, the firm's 'efficiency measures' include reducing the number of porters from 71 to 61 and cutting wages by £1,000 a year.
Workers look to the recent example of the ground-breaking strikes of porters, domestics and other low paid workers at the Barts hospital trust, and they have been joining the union.
They point out that patients will be left with fewer porters to assist them: "We know that patients can wait a long time for a porter when we are busy, but how can reducing our numbers say that this will not happen in the future? I have three young children and cannot afford to lose £1,000 a year from my wages," said a union member.
Who can? But, the corporate giant now seeks to make more profit by reducing pay and workers' much-needed breaks.
Protesters gave an indication of the massive support that hospital workers would get for industrial action in defence of jobs, conditions and services.
Local councils should call in the management of the crisis-ridden health trust to question their failure to ensure that Medirest behaves responsibly. Moreover, all outsourced services should be brought back in-house with workers receiving decent pay and full workplace benefits.
The North Middlesex chief executive, Libby McManus, was forced to resign in September following reported concerns over poor performance.
Local councils and the labour movement must demand that the trust gets a grip and staffs services properly through the winter.
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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.
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In The Socialist 18 October 2017:
What we think
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Socialist Party workplace news
Royal Mail bosses block strike - back postal workers
PCS ballots members on the pay cap
Nationalise to save jobs at BAE Systems
Striking back against sackers' charter at Leeds Uni
North London hospital workers fight cuts and job losses
Unite local government sector plans strike ballot
Salford Unison condemns pay cuts
October revolution 1917
Russia, October 1917: When workers took power
October 1917 reviews: 'More bright than any heaven'
October 1917 centenary pull-out and poster
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
No cuts - hands off King George A&E!
Can you donate to the Socialism 2017 appeal?
Hundreds turn out for rally aimed at removing west Wales Tory MP
Sheffield Labour council threatens peaceful protesters with prison
Socialist Students 'welcome' Hillary Clinton to Swansea
International socialist news and analysis
Campaign against political repression in Hong Kong
Socialist Party comments and reviews
Powerful picture of the Port Talbot steel workers' struggle
Conference on state spies: who's watching who?
'Dazzling' Bad Art show points to socialist future
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