
The Socialist 17 July 2019
Stop Boris - general election now

Stop Boris - general election now
Fraudsters thrive and claimants suffer in despicable Universal Credit scam
Wales: chronic NHS underfunding exposed
The 45th anniversary of the strike
NSSN conference 2019: at the heart of trade union struggle
Health visitors strike for the first time ever
Bradford NHS workers strike against privatisation
Victory for Stagecoach bus strikers!
Newham housing repairs workers announce strike dates
Council seeks to take budget deficit out on school staff and pupils
50 years since Apollo 11 - 'One giant leap': how political conflict launched the moon landing
Socialist change to end climate change
Residents mobilise to stop eviction
Campaigners force U-turn over NHS privatisation
Leicestershire - No more austerity!
Excellent response to building fund appeal
Greece elections: Syriza ousted amid voter disillusionment
Sudan masses mobilise against state repression
Interview: protests over killing in Israel
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Health visitors strike for the first time ever
Stop the two-tier service, pay up now!
Jon Dale, secretary, Unite union EM/NG32 Nottinghamshire Health branch (personal capacity)
Health visitors in Lincolnshire believe theirs is the first health visitors' strike anywhere in the country. The 58 specialist nurses, members of Unite the Union, voted for action by an 84% majority.
The council is undermining the professional role of a health visitor, introducing a two-tier service. In- stead of preventing childhood and family problems, health visitors will be box ticking or running from crisis to crisis.
'Level 1' health visitors no longer have specialist responsibilities, so will be de-skilled. This will put young children and families at risk and risk the smaller number of 'Level 2' health visitors burning out with a heavy caseload.
In 2017, health visitors were transferred from the NHS to the Tory-controlled county council.
Although NHS and local authority workers have had (small) pay rises since, the council refused to raise health visitors' pay. They have each lost over £2,000 a year.
The council claims it can't pay more, but found £292,000 to pay its former chief executive for six months' work! Its central government grant has been slashed from £211 million to £20 million over the past eight years.
The council should refuse to pass on these cuts, or stand aside for campaigners who will.
Two 24-hour and two 48-hour strikes were initially announced, starting on 15 July. A further six days were agreed at a mass meeting after the first picket.
Similar issues are brewing up across the country. Nationally, the number of health visitors has fallen 25% since 2015.
Newborn babies, young families and health visitors are paying the price. This Lincolnshire strike may be the first but is unlikely to be the last.
National strike action is needed, uniting all public service workers against all cuts.
- Messages of support and donations to membership.eastmids@unitetheunion.org
In this issue
What we think
Stop Boris - general election now
News
Fraudsters thrive and claimants suffer in despicable Universal Credit scam
Wales: chronic NHS underfunding exposed
Imperial typewriters dispute
The 45th anniversary of the strike
Workplace news
NSSN conference 2019: at the heart of trade union struggle
Health visitors strike for the first time ever
Bradford NHS workers strike against privatisation
Victory for Stagecoach bus strikers!
Newham housing repairs workers announce strike dates
Council seeks to take budget deficit out on school staff and pupils
Moon landing 50 years on
50 years since Apollo 11 - 'One giant leap': how political conflict launched the moon landing
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Socialist change to end climate change
Residents mobilise to stop eviction
Campaigners force U-turn over NHS privatisation
Leicestershire - No more austerity!
Excellent response to building fund appeal
International socialist news and analysis
Greece elections: Syriza ousted amid voter disillusionment
Sudan masses mobilise against state repression
Interview: protests over killing in Israel
Opinion
Home | The Socialist 17 July 2019 | Join the Socialist Party
Related links:
Lincolnshire health visitors strike
Lincolnshire health visitors strike boost
Lincolnshire health visitors' solidarity rally
Health workers strike against £2,000 loss of pay
RMT rail members buoyed by coordinated action
South African Airways workers win wage increase after strike action
Strikes: more determined than ever
Royal Mail court ruling - national reps meeting and solidarity action essential
It's a strike to ensure the safety of the travelling public
End profiteering from health - nationalise big pharma
Northern Ireland: Health workers take action over understaffing and pay equality
The Great Big Socialist Party Quiz 2019