Picket line of the now victorious Manchester mental health workers
Mental health strikers in Manchester have won their long running dispute over staffing and resources.
The Unite and Unison union members—who are nurses, psychologists, social workers, support workers, welfare rights workers, CBT therapists and employment specialists—had been fighting local health bosses for more workers.
They described the services provided by Manchester Early Intervention in Psychosis teams as “totally overwhelmed”.
But after months of action bosses finally made a new offer of an extra £1 million in recurrent funding, which will pay for 21 staff across the service.
Strikers this week voted to accept the offer and end the dispute.
Unison branch secretary Claire Miller, said, “The support we have received, the friends we have made, the collective strength that’s pushed us through the winter and to this point where we have beaten the odds and shown that if we stand united, we can push those in power to make the right decisions.”
She is right, and the victory has big implications for thousands of other NHS staff currently working in intolerable conditions.
If a small team of determined strikers in Manchester can win on this scale, then the same must be true across Britain.
Claire says that despite the victory, the wider fight for mental health services is far from over.
“We pause today, to acknowledge some good news and the certainty that standing up together can work to effect the change we must demand,” she said in a statement.
“Tomorrow, we must continue to fight for our six local community mental health teams. Please don’t wait until someone you love needs these services, only to then realise that they are not fit for purpose.”
The BMA is quietly celebrating that the Labour government is moving to prioritise British Medical School graduates over international medical graduates (IMGs) applying speciality level training.
The BMA has taken the position of prioritising its own members, who are British-based regardless of nationality.
Couching its arguments with language that recognises that British-based graduates can be from all nationalities, and that IMGs have long been core and valuable parts of the NHS, the union is attempting to walk a fine line.
It recognises its national basis whilst rejecting xenophobia. Typically, the BMA has been strong on combatting racism and hate (including rejecting the recent transphobic court ruling as “scientifically illiterate”).
However, you only need to look at the capitalist press to see how difficult maintaining this position is. Already, the Times and Daily Mail newspapers have published headlines saying “British-trained” doctors will get “priority over foreigners”.
They summarise the line that health secretary Wes Streeting is taking. The xenophobia and racism that underlies the government’s manoeuvres, and parroted with glee by the right-wing press, is clear.
The BMA must always stand for international solidarity and not give any space to hateful narratives over migrants.
Elliot, Coventry
More than 40 NHS cleaners working for Mitie were set to strike for 24 hours as Socialist worker went to press on Tuesday.
Unison members are furious after being underpaid by the private firm and are still awaiting the £1,655 “Covid bonus” promised by the government to all NHS workers.
The cleaners work at nine sites in Blackburn, Burnley, Nelson, Darwen, Accrington and Bacup. Unison says the underpayments began in June 2024 when the cleaners worked for another private facilities company, OCS.
The problem continued when they were transferred to Mitie last August. Some workers are now owed almost £1,000. One Mitie worker said, “I’ve not had my correct wage since Mitie took over the contract last August.
“There’s been no support from Mitie, and messages have often gone unanswered.
“I’ve had to borrow money from elderly relatives to pay for food and other essential items.
“Having the wrong pay month after month also affects my ability to bring up a young child.
“The constant issues are causing me serious financial hardship, and my mental health has suffered.
“I’m scared I will lose my home, but I don’t feel that I matter to Mitie.”
Union victories over healthcare assistants’ (HCAs) pay continue to roll in.
Last week HCAs in East Lancashire not only won regrading from NHS band 2, the lowest in the health service, to band 3. And they won back payments to 2018—the gold standard in these disputes.
That will mean some long standing workers stand to gain sums of well over a £1,000, as well as increased weekly pay.
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