UNISON, the workers’ union, had submitted a pay parity claim in July 2002, demanding that workers employed by the private contractor be paid the same as those who are employed to do the same work by the health department. When ISS did not respond, the union called a large meeting at a lecture hall in the hospital—the only place big enough for all 360 workers. There was enthusiastic support for action. After a ballot, 96 percent voted to strike. ISS is a giant company that employs more then 265,000 people in 38 countries.

Workers went on strike for two consecutive days in May and three days in June. Another two-day walkout had been planned for July. At these actions, UNISON members set up large, lively picket lines outside the hospital’s entrance. Buses and cars driving past honked in solidarity. Nurses and other National Health Service (NHS) workers and their families backed the unionists.

Diane Swingler, chair of UNISON’s Homerton branch, told the UNISON newsletter that the fight at Whipps Cross is “part of the fight against low pay across the country.”

The strike got local support from the East London Mosque and The East London Communities Organisation (TELCO), which has 40 affiliates and has been supporting the campaign for a wage increase for low-paid hospital workers in the east London area.

ISS contract workers got paid less than workers directly employed by the National Health Service. Bob, Jeff, and Mike, three porters at Whipps Cross quoted in the UNISON newsletter, explained that the difference could be as much as £60 ($90) a week. ISS porters working under NHS terms and conditions also joined the strike even though they stood to gain no pay increase.

A year ago, only 60 of the contract workers were members of the union. Today that membership figure is at 280. UNISON officials said that the new pay deal was a solid victory, and that money was still coming into the union’s hardship fund and would be divided up amongst the workers.

Cleaners, porters and catering staff who were paid £4.60, £4.73, and £4.95 an hour prior to the struggle now are paid a minimum rate of £5.17 an hour, with an additional £0.17 per hour paid as a lump sum. Under the new contract, the minimum rate increases to £5.34 per hour in April 2004. Improved shift payments from £5.36 to £5.54 for porters who work split shifts were also won. Annual leave after three years work will increase to 22 days plus 8 public holidays, and workers are now entitled to three days paid leave for family emergencies. The contract workers are also now entitled to sick pay. The deal did not include a pension increase, which the workers were also seeking.

Workers were largely pleased with the results of the strike. Some, however, had mixed feelings. “Justice has been done,” said Don Laidly, a porter, explaining he was very happy with the new pay rates and conditions.

“They gave us a little bit, but people wanted to stop because we didn’t get paid,” said Perry, a cleaner. “Some people went back to work while some of us were still on the picket line.”

Many workers wanted more. John Holmes, a porter on split shifts, said that the porters solidly backed the strike, but “personally I think that we should be on £8 an hour. ISS say they don’t have the money but they make so much profit.” He felt concerned about the pensions question being excluded from the offer, he said. “The government is getting rid of pensions, so what am I going to have when I’m older? I’ll only have my savings, I can’t afford to pay into a private pension scheme. Private pensions aren’t working.”

Catering workers Caroline Pugh and Lynne Lawrence said, “You have to be high up to get into a pension scheme. Managers have something.” Both workers have been in the union since starting the job.

Workers at hospitals in Scunthorpe, Goole, Grimsby, Bolton, Homerton, and Tower Hamlets in east London have also taken action. ISS Mediclean workers at Royal Bolton Hospital won £5 “across the board” after 12 days of industrial action.

Aurora Shannon contributed to this article.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home