STRIKE OF ISS WORKERS AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, WOOLWICH
WE HAVE JUST BEEN INFORMED BY THE GMB (6.3.15) THAT THE STRIKE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED
Over 200 GMB members are employed by private contractor ISS at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich. They have carried out successful one day strikes but are now due to take strike action for 5 days beginning on 9 March.
Demonstration
There will be a demo on Tuesday from General Gordon Square, outside Woolwich Arsenal station in Woolwich, assembling 10am to march to the hospital.
Picket lines will be outside the hospital which is on Stadium Road, Woolwich Monday to Friday 6am-6pm
Donations can be made through pay pal by following this link; http://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/work-and-campaigns/campaigns/iss-queen-elizabeth-hospital-woolwich/
Messages of support can be sent to; pathutton@live.co.uk and nadine.houghton@gmb.org.uk
If anyone wants to write/print an article, further information can be found here; http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/further-week-strike-at-woolwich-hospital
Background
The GMB members are employed by ISS at the hospital as cleaners, security, ward hostesses, caterers, on the switchboard and as porters. Members want the same pay rates and weekend enhancements and unsocial hours rates as the staff directly employed by
ISS workers are paid between £7.10 and £7.32 per hour. The lowest rate for directly employed staff is £7.33 ph which moves in yearly increments to £7.51 and £7.69 under the current NHS pay progression system.
ISS staff work unsocial hours for which they get between 90p – £2:05 per hour extra. As direct staff they would be entitled to time and a half – ISS staff who work on Saturday get time and a quarter. As direct staff this would be time and a half. When they work Sunday or a bank holiday they get time and a half. As direct staff this would be double time. ISS also pay less than sick pay for weekend. There are a number of health and safety issues to resolve. One worker said that a porter could be doing the same job as another porter but they could be on 4 different rates of pay
SLH CAMPAIGNERS JOIN NHS NURSES, MIDWIVES AND STAFF ON STRIKE AGAINST LOW PAY ON 24TH NOVEMBER
Patients from the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign joined Lewisham Hospital staff on the picket lines again outside Lewisham Hospital as they took part in the second national mini strike over a 1% pay rise recommended by the pay review body has been refused by government.
Once again there was a militant mood and passing motorists tooted their support to the strikers. Millions are spent on agency staff and consultants and yet the people who keep the NHS going day in day out are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to fair pay.
Click here to see video from Stuart Monro
PHOTOS
PICKET ON 13TH OCTOBER
SLH CAMPAIGNERS JOIN NHS NURSES, MIDWIVES AND STAFF ON STRIKE AGAINST LOW PAY
WORKERS AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL EMPLOYED BY ISS STRIKE FOR PARITY WITH NHS STAFF
NHS STAFF FROM WHIPPS CROSS HOSPITAL JOIN NATIONAL STRIKE
Patients from the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign joined Lewisham Hospital staff on the picket lines outside Lewisham Hospital as they took part in the first national NHS strike for 20 years. There was a militant mood and passing motorists tooted their support to the strikers. Staff are striking about low pay – a 1% pay rise recommended by the pay review body has been refused by government. This comes after years of refusal to raise pay. Millions are spent on agency staff and consultants and yet the people who keep the NHS going day in day out are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to fair pay.
More pictures
WORKERS AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL EMPLOYED BY PFI SUPPORTER MERIDICAN STRIKE FOR PARITY WITH NHS STAFF
Picture from Tuesday 25 November
‘Magnificent strike’ at QEH hospital – 8th October
Report from SLH campaigner Ian Crosson
Over 200 GMB members employed by private contractor ISS at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich took part in a very successful one
day strike on Weds 8th Oct.
The GMB members are employed by ISS at the hospital as cleaners, security, ward hostesses, caterers, on the switchboard and as porters. Members want the same pay rates and weekend enhancements and unsocial hours rates as the staff directly employed by the Trust.
There were about 100 pickets of the hospital who covered all 7 entrances to the hospital. Despite the bad weather the mood of the strikers was incredibly militant, angry and defiant. It felt like years of frustration over people being employed on different pay grades exploded on Wednesday – with people saying enough is enough.
The GMB has grown rapidly from 36 members in Feb to around 250 in the space of 8 months by starting a serious campaign which has inspired people to join the union.
ISS workers are paid between £7.10 and £7.32 per hour. The lowest rate for directly employed staff is £7.33 ph which moves in yearly increments to £7.51 and £7.69 under the current NHS pay progression system.
ISS staff work unsocial hours for which they get between 90p – £2:05 per hour extra. As direct staff they would be entitled to time and a half – ISS staff who work on Saturday get time and a quarter. As direct staff this would be time and a half. When they work Sunday or a bank holiday they get time and a half. As direct staff this would be double time. ISS also pay less than sick pay for weekend. There are a number of health and safety issues to resolve. One worker told me that a porter could be doing the same job as another porter but they could be on 4 different rates of pay!
Queen Elizabeth Hospital has had massive financial problems for several years due to huge mounting PFI debts. Meridian Hospitals PLC paid a dividend of £2, 772, 000 last year. This money is going straight from the public purse into private pockets. The Trust should pressurise Meridian Hospitals PLC and ISS to enter into negotiations to avert this stoppage.
There were solidarity speeches from Bexley and Greenwich trades council, Lewisham trades council, Save Lewisham Hospital campaign (who gave a £60 donation from a recent meeting) and Keep our NHS Public.
Further strike action is being planned.
Hopefully the militancy of the QEH ISS strikers will inspire other workers in the NHS ( whether privatised or still on NHS contracts) to fight for better pay and an end to a two –tier workforce.
Please send of messages of support and solidarity to:
Pat Hutton GMB rep- 07545 275 608 email pathutton@live.co.uk.
If you or your union branch/ group can send a donation towards their strike fund that would be most appreciated.
Also please invite these amazing strikers to come and speak about their dispute.
Ian Crosson 07811 255 261
NHS STAFF FROM WHIPPS CROSS HOSPITAL JOIN NATIONAL STRIKE
Whipps Cross Hospital, where Charlotte Monro was employed, showed a good turnout today in support of the NHS national strike.
