The results of the ballot of workers employed by the private-contractors Sodexo at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple will be known on 21st December. There will be a meeting between Sodexo staff, UNISON, Sodexo, the Trust and ACAS the same day. Following this, there’s a UNISON meeting on the 22nd. UNISON members are taking these steps because of the refusal by Sodexo and the Trust to honour a 2006 agreement that gave the Sodexo workers 'parity' with those directly employed by the NHS, on matters such as pay, sick pay and holidays. The NHS Trust has already received the money to enable it to do this, but has failed to do so. In fact, until the recent threats of action by Sodexo staff, the Trust had ignored or refused to respond to requests to even discuss the matter. But every other Trust in the country has managed to do it, which begs the question - what have the Trust done with the money?
The previous Tory Government initiated the policy of contracting out hospital services to outside private companies. New Labour have persisted with this, a means to attack the workforce and unions, and drive down pay and conditions. Any short term savings made by contracting out services are false economies. An underpaid, demoralised and revolving door workforce in areas such as portering and cleaning pose grave risks to patient care and safety.
The lack of sick pay is a particular bone of contention. As the workers themselves point out, the concern for patient safety by the Trust rings very hollow, when staff are pressu
rised by the lack of sick pay to go to work when ill. This is an obvious threat to patients, who may contract illnesses from Sodexo staff working near them.
UNISON members at North Devon District Hospital are not especially militant, but the anger at the their treatment has led them to take this action, which has been helped by a well organised, active UNISON Healthcare branch at the hospital. Since the summer, UNISON stewards and others have managed to increase union membership amongst Sodexo staff from about 80 to roughly 210, out of a total of 300 staff.
North Devon Socialist Party fully supports the action, and offers our solidarity to these workers, who form the backbone of the NHS, but are little rewarded for their efforts. There will be those who claim that any strike action that takes place is damaging to patients. Far more damaging to patients though, is the culture of privatisation, profit and undervaluation of staff that both the Tories and New Labour have accelerated.
The main parties line up to condemn workers like those at Royal Mail, BA and Sodexo workers for sticking up for themselves, and for public services. We support them in their efforts to defend jobs, standards of living, workplace conditions and the quality of the service we rely on. In what will be a very difficult 2010 with more and more struggles, we will continue to do that. As we reach the end of a year when many workers have said 'enough', we ask you to lend your support also to the Sodexho workers, and if possible join them on a cold picket line this Christmas period to show your solidarity.
Please also send your messages of support to Bindy Sumner, UNISON Branch Secretary, Suite 2, Munro House, North Devon District Hospital, Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, North Devon.
