Harlow’s parliamentary candidate backs domestic staff campaign at PAH
Health / Wed 10th Apr 2019 at 07:26am
LAURA McAlpine, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate is calling for the Chief Executive of Princess Alexandra Hospital to reconsider plans to outsource the Domestic Services and Estates staff resource at the hospital.
Laura said: “The staff themselves (some of whom have been working within the NHS for over 36 years) are calling for the trust to keep them in house, employed by the NHS and not by a private company. Together with UNISON, I support the domestic staff’s position on formally declaring an industrial dispute. It’s a decision they haven’t taken lightly, but they’ve been left with no other option.
“We have seen the catastrophic failings of private companies like Carillion, Circle and Serco, and the harmful and disruptive consequences. I, along with UNISON and the PAH domestic staff have little confidence that any private company can deliver these incredibly important services without compromising on worker’s pay, hours and rights.
“The Domestic staff at PAH are an incredibly hard-working group of workers, they desperately want to remain within the NHS. They have set up their own petition which is gaining a huge amount of support from the public.
“The Chief Exec has stressed how much the trust values and respects their domestic staff, but they are actively working against their wishes by planning to outsource their services.”
Sue Brett, a domestic cleaner who has been working for the trust for 36 years said: “I am set to lose 5 years NHS pension. We feel cast aside. We don’t want to work for a private company. The NHS is our life, our family. When one domestic is in trouble, we all pull together. I’m getting quite emotional about all of this.”
UNISON regional organiser Caroline Hennessy said: “We’d like to thank Laura for supporting PAH’s domestics in their fight to stay part of the NHS.
“The Trust board is increasingly isolated, with figures from across the political spectrum opposing its plans and thousands of Harlow residents speaking out against them.
“It’s time for PAH bosses to do the right thing by withdrawing from market testing and showing their vital domestic staff that they really do value their hard work to keep patients safe.”
Domestic worker’s petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-princess-alexandra-hospital-domestics
UKMaverick785
2019-04-10 12:44:25
Typical Labour. The politics of placards! Why doesn't she try getting to the bottom of the actual problem for once! Why doesn't she actually book an appointment and go see him, and get both sides before digging out the placard!
PTK
2019-04-10 13:41:35
This attack on the conditions of the cleaners at our local hospital is a small part of the class war that has been waged against working class people for years. Working class people are under attack, and the Prospective Labour Party candidate is taking their side. This is a good thing. Well done Laura McAlpine!
durcant
2019-04-10 15:27:08
I really hope this doesn’t happen as it critical that we remain one team dedicated to provide a quality environment of care. This team is just as important as any other team but you would never support the privatisation of Doctors or nurses. They keep us all safe. One dedicated team making the difference. Support them as you may need them one day. Thank you.
PAH domestic
2019-04-10 19:25:49
It was great that Laura took the time to come and meet with domestics at the hospital. She really understands why the domestics at PAH want to remain part of the NHS and not be outsourced to a private company. Laura has been in contact the Trust about this issue and has met with the PAH domestics and with UNISON. It’s now time for the trust to ditch these plans and keep the service in-house #saveourdomestics
jhumphreys84
2019-04-11 10:11:54
In the interests of balance, will YourHarlow also be publishing Robert Halfons visit to them too?
ronnieboy1
2019-04-12 09:04:59
PTK..yes does that war against working people include the 133 labour mps who disregard the leave voters in their areas?Im all for ending the war against working class people in the UK..are you?
6 Comments for Harlow’s parliamentary candidate backs domestic staff campaign at PAH: