UK IWW fight against blood service centralisation plans

ireland / britain | workplace struggles | other libertarian press Monday December 03, 2007 00:36 by IWW National Blood Service - IWW iww.nbs at googlemail dot com

IWW launches second phase of fight against blood service centralisation plans

National Blood Service bosses in England and Wales plan to axe over 600 jobs and put patients lives across the National Health Service at threat.

The campaign, from workers in the National Blood Service and the IWW has become increasingly active, and the IWW is growing in the service. Now the IWW is launching a new phase of the campaign, to counter the employer offensive.

IWW members demonstrate at Save Our NHS rally in London

The IWW is fighting the closure of 10 blood processing centres across England. This is the largest campaign yet attempted by the IWW in the UK (BIROC), and has led to large scale regional mobilisations, and the distribution of 55,000 leaflets and 5000 targeted workplace bulletins.

The campaign thusfar has led to the formation of an IWW job branch in the West Midlands, the resignation of the Chief Executive, Martin Gorham, and a review into the management plan to axe over 600 jobs.

However the success of the campaign has led to a management fightback. In a move largely seen as panicked, following the embarrassing resignation of the Chief Executive and climbdown in granting the review, management consultantancy firm McKinseys were appointed at huge expense to conduct the review. McKinseys are the firm which given ENRON a financial clean bill of health; it is widely viewed by staff that the firm have been called in to force through management plans. NBS bosses have also appointed an acting Chief Executive to see the review out; what Clive Ronaldson apparently has going for him is that he has "been involved in many movements of products and closures of factories." At least that's what he tells staff!

The review culminates in January and it is widely expected that with polished management goons McKinseys onside, and 'Butcher' Ronaldson temporarily let loose at the helm the review will be a management whitewash.

As a result staff and IWW campaigners are gearing up for a fight. The IWW is launching a new phase of the campaign to counter the management fightback. It aims to counter the management by circumscribing them and to directly pressurise their bosses, with a campaign of targeted direct action.

This is the largest struggle the IWW has been involved in, in the UK. The IWW are fighting to win it!

To find out more about the campaign, or to get in touch with the job branch directly, please contact: iww.nbs@gmail.com

[News release from IWW NBS]