Kick Poverty Pay Out Of The NHS

Public Services Not Private Profit

LOW-PAID health workers at Whipps Cross hospital in east London are striking for three days from 18 June, in their battle for a living wage. The workers are employed by ISS Mediclean, part of the multinational ISS group, which operates in 38 countries with its headquarters in Denmark.

The workers initially launched a joint pay claim with three other east London hospitals, demanding parity with workers on NHS terms and conditions. Staff at the other hospitals, Homerton, Mile End and St Clements have reached a settlement which gives them a pay rise and some improvements, like a sick pay scheme but the Whipps Cross workers are fighting on.

Many of the workers have two or three jobs to get enough money to survive and they have overcome much, including fear and language difficulties, to get organised and fight this company which makes its profits from privatisation of the health service.

ISS Mediclean talks about 'partnership' and 'people serving people' but the reality is the ISS chief on over Ł600,000 a year, plus stock options and a free car, whilst some of the Whipps Cross workers are on Ł4.42 an hour.

The picket lines have been staffed from the early hours of the morning and other hospital workers, from all departments and grades have been giving the workers their full support.

Please send donations and messages of support to Len Hockey, UNISON office, Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London E11 1NR. 020 8535 6496 or [email protected]

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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.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
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