by Clare Doyle, Hackney Socialist Party
At Hackney’s Homerton Hospital, ancillary workers employed by the notorious private sub-contractors ISS are preparing for battle. The nearly 300 porters, canteen workers, cleaners and security guards, all of whom do vital work to protect staff and patients, have long-standing grievances. These include being denied the £1,655 bonus paid to all other staff in the hospital who worked through the deadly pandemic.
Photo: Clare Doyle, Socialist Party
These workers have seen ISS colleagues at neighbouring hospitals win big concessions and get taken ‘in house’ after determined strike action. Now they are following suit. At their regular Wednesday gathering outside the hospital on 4 September, they made plans to lobby the hospital’s council of governors the next evening.
Putting our case
Safety steward Isabella was very pleased with the turn out and the effect they had on the meeting: “Three of us, including the Unison secretary, Jordan, went inside the meeting itself to put our case. 13 of the 22 governors have said they supported us, but no decision was made at that meeting.”
The chairperson who spoke against a decision being made in favour of these low-paid workers was none other than Sir John Gieve – a former deputy governor of the Bank of England and a permanent secretary at the Home Office.
Now is the time for the ISS workers to get organised and prepare a fight to the finish.