Hospital workers battle on
The poor weather conditions did little to diminish the determination of the strikers at North Devon District Hospital last week. The superbly organised picket drew a great deal of support from passing motorists, and even succeeded in turning back two lorries which were delivering non-essential goods to the hospital.
The workers, employed by Sodexo as hospital ancillary staff, were striking to force the Trust to abide by an agreement to give them the same pay and conditions as NHS-employed staff.
The Trust have been given the money to implement Agenda for Change (which ends two-tier terms and conditions), but they have failed to abide by the agreement. Now they have been forced to admit that they brought in Sodexo workers from other areas to try to break the strike - which didn't work.
Further action is being discussed and there will be a rally in Barnstaple on 16 January.
Jim Lowe
- Messages of support and donations are urgently needed. Please send them to: North Devon Unison health branch: Bindy Sumner, Unison branch secretary, Suite 2, Munro House, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, North Devon.
bindy.sumner@ndevon.swest.nhs.uk and unisonhealthndevon@hotmail.co.uk
- Support the Sodexo workers, join the demo: Saturday 16 January, assemble 12.30pm in the Square, Barnstaple.
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In The Socialist 13 January 2010:
Decent jobs - not slave labour
Protest against bankers' bonuses
Leeds City Council Future Jobs Fund is no solution
Trade Unionists and Socialist Coalition
Launch of Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Socialist Party news and analysis
Labour's leadership crisis - time for a new workers' party
Global warming chills the north
Iceland debt crisis: Make the 'dirt bags' pay!
No to County Council cuts in Warwickshire!
Northern Ireland
Corruption scandal grips Northern Ireland
Socialist Party workplace news
Fujitsu workers say: "Enough is enough"
Buses - privatisation means worse services
Unison Witchhunt
Unison witch-hunt: Shock exposures at Employment Tribunal
Workplace Feature
Call centres: Union campaign makes important gains
Socialist Party international feature
Greece - on the edge of a volcano
International socialist news and analysis
Sri Lanka presidential elections: No to the two warmongers!
Israel: Instability, class polarisation and socialism
Chile - Freedom for Elena Varela
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