Whilst the coalition Government is tearing apart the national arrangements for the protection of workers in local government, workers now see that the Health Service agreement Agenda for Change will be next. Yet these workers have never even enjoyed its benefits in the first place.
Working full time on £6.35 an hour in Buckinghamshire for Compass gives you only 320 above benefit levels. Take a couple of days off and you are below the breadline. Yet Buckinghamshire is one of the welathiest parts of the UK. Compass maintain that they have never had trouble filling vacancies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-12240633
Most of those workers don't have English as their first langauge. Flags from Poland, Pakistan, Brazil, Latvia, Lithuania, India, Sri Lanka, Russia and the UK flew proudly alongside UNISON flags on the picket lines in Southampton and in Buckinghamshire
Extensive news coverage across the Region also focused on the strikers joining a Regional Demonstration in Southampton attended by over a 1,000 workers.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/southampton/8797749.Council_and_health_staff_to_march/
Meanwhile in High Wycombe a noisy march through the town centre ended with a rally addressed by Dave Prentis General Secretary. Dave told the strikers
'You are wonderful - and very noisy! We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. Thi company with million of pounds of profits, based in one of the wealthiest areas of the country can afford to pay you sick pay and we will win!'
Strikers in both campaigns are ready for the long campaign. With excellent public support they are determined to carry on.
For more news reports read:
http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/Wiadomosci/1,80269,8979875,Strajkuja_Polacy_zatrudnieni_w_angielskich_szpitalach.html
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/district/southampton/8786595.Hospital_cleaners_to_go_on_strike_again/
http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/localnews/highwycombe/8800580.Hospital_workers_on_strike_call_for__fair_deal_/