Unite backs UK Uncut's banks' action to defend the NHS
27 May 2011
The UK's biggest union, Unite, is calling upon its members to
back the action by UK Uncut tomorrow (Saturday) designed to
highlight the danger to the NHS posed by the government's health
bill and cuts programme.
The union, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers across
both the finance and health sectors, says that when it comes to the
NHS, private and public sector workers share a common cause -
defending a service which offers support to all regardless of
income.
UK Uncut's action will see banks turned into hospitals and other
NHS services as members of the public show their love for the
publicly-run health service and their anger that ordinary people
continue to pay dearly for the errors of a banking world
elite.
The action comes in the week when a further 1,500 bank workers paid
the price for the 2009 bailout - which forced the country into
deficit - with their jobs. Additionally, as the government
forces the NHS to find £20 billion in ’efficiency' savings over the
next four years, health jobs will go - 50,000 health professionals
have lost their jobs this year alone and waiting lists are growing,
with Unite predicting further cuts and instability to the service
if the government forces through its health and social care
bill.
Rachael Maskell, Unite's national officer for the health sector,
welcomes UK Uncut's action: "The greed of a few and the failure to
regulate brought our banking system and the economy to their knees
but government expects the ordinary people of this country to pick
up the tab.
"We must not allow the profit-first value to destroy our NHS.
"For over sixty years, this country has upheld the principles of
quality, universal care where the patient's needs comes before
private greed every time. We are now at the most worrying
juncture in the NHS' history with the government is poised to let
market values rip through the service. As Bevan said, the NHS will
survive as long as there are people to fight for it. Now is
the moment to fight."
David Fleming, Unite's national officer for the finance sector,
added: "We only have to look at the dramatic job losses in the
finance sector since 2009 to be reminded what happens when profit
is put first. Tens of thousands of jobs have gone - this week
another 1,500 were confirmed as joining the dole queue.
"This country deregulated its banks and since doing so profits have
rocketed but who has benefited? Certainly not the
communities, workers or businesses of Britain.
"The culture of uncertainty and unthinking cuts are not what we
want for the NHS, the one thing that can be relied upon in this
country to support you whatever your means.
"Tomorrow's action is an opportunity to send a clear message;
people are angry that the economic crisis has brought undue
suffering to working people while those that caused it remain
untouched. It must not take down our NHS too."
Details of UK Uncut's Transform the Banks, Save the NHS actions can
be found at www.ukuncut.org.uk
Unite has been fighting for the government to scrap its Health and
Social Care bill, currently before parliament, which will put
competition at the heart of the NHS. The union has also been
fighting for a better deal for the UK's finance workers, many of
whom earn little above the minimum wage and yet are being sacked by
the state-aided banks as they seek to return to
profitability.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976 832
861
