Some 250 ancillary workers at Whipps Cross Hospital, in east London, have been on strike in an attempt to force management to honour a pay deal agreed atter a successful strike three years ago.
The workers, employed by sub-contractor Rentokil Initial, have demanded pay parity with directly-employed staff. Although this has been accepted, the sub-contractor is now claiming that the funding should come from the health care trust, rather than from its own bloated profits (£350 million in 2005).
During the three-day strike in early September, most workers were on the picket line, which generated a strong sense of solidarity.
The union is now threatening a five-day strike, and even longer action, in order to force the company to increase the poverty pay levels to the minimum agreed three years ago.
Whipps Cross, meanwhile, is being threatened with downgrading or even closure. The local council, the London Borough of Waltham Forest, has long sought to develop the hospital grounds for housing; the nurses' homes were closed some years ago, though the redevelopment scheme was rejected as no provision had been made for schools for the young families expected to be interested.
In recent weeks, the hospital has seen the closure of two wards, with the loss of 107 beds. "Fit for the Future", a new health strategy for northeast London, recommends the transfer of most services from Whipps, and other local hospitals, to a yet-to-be-built hospital several miles away, in Romford.
It calls immediately for cuts of £33 million, with the loss of 400 jobs, 107 beds, 5 wards, 2 theatres and 17,303 out patient attendances.
Local health service administrators have been briefed about the closure plans, although the government has denied them.
Walthamstow's left Labour MP Neil Gerrard has promised to campaign if unacceptable decisions are made, which do not reflect local demand.
But, according to the Walthamstow Guardian, NHS London has warned that any public consultation "will be ignored if it does not fit in with a London-wide review of health services".
Local unions, and residents of Waltham Forest, have taken up the fight both for decent pay and conditions for staff at Whipps Cross, and to secure the future of this hospital. Keep Our NHS Public meets regularly in the borough, has lobbied the council and its health scrutiny committee, and has planned local public meetings for November.
For more information, or to get involved in the campaign, contact Waltham Forest Keep Our NHS Public, at 07905 765705.