Sanctuary Members: No Surrender! More Action!
18 April 2019
What better way to end the bank holiday week than with a packed and resolute meeting of our Sanctuary Care workers demanding that if the employer doesn't meet their demands, we move to ballot for strike action.
Sanctuary members hold up their demands, whilst shielding their faces following intimidation and threats by the company towards those who organise for Unite.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Residents
Members heard speakers describe how conditions had deteriorated for staff and residents in other care homes privatised by Greenwich council and vowed that it should not happen again. They would fight on, up to and including strike action if necessary rather than seeing vulnerable residents receive a poorer standard of service by exhausted, overworked and underpaid staff.
Management Bullying Aids Recruitment
The meeting followed one in March which had responded to threats to terms and conditions by agreeing to press for improvements and a 10% pay rise.
Read our report of the meeting and full list of demands here.
After the March meeting, management attempted to bully and intimidate staff to deter them from joining Unite, or organising for the union. This strategy backfired however as the more recent meeting demonstrated. The threats have only strengthened members' resolve, and several people joined Unite on the spot.
Union Organisation Formalised
There were formal elections for the reps who will now receive accreditation and training. New demands were added to the list and two actions agreed to launch the campaign. Keep visiting this site for future updates. If you would like to know more, contact the Branch Secretary, Suzanne Muna.