Unions gear up for fight over DHL health 'privatisation' deal
Unions have pledged support for strike action in a bid to stop the Labour Government outsourcing two National Health Service operations to DHL, the German-owned logistics company. The result of a strike ballot of NHS staff is due to be announced on Monday at the start of the Trades Union Congress annual meeting. Unions are using the high-profile event to begin a campaign against the DHL deal.
On Tuesday, the Government confirmed that DHL would take over £22bn worth of buying and distribution for about 600 hospitals. Shares in Deutsche Post, DHL's parent, rose on news that the 10-year contract was worth up to £1.6bn a year.
Union leaders said it was the biggest "privatisation" of NHS services to date. Some 1,700 staff working for two NHS divisions, Logistics, and Purchasing and Supply, will be transferred to a new company from October 1.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "Our members are proud to work for the NHS and feel betrayed by a Government that is handing them over to DHL, like one of the packages they deliver. The Government's decision to privatise it is driven by pure dogma."
The GMB, as well as representing NHS workers, is also the main union at DHL.
Sharon Holder, GMB national officer, said members in the NHS and DHL would "seek common ground" to oppose the deal. She said: "It is part of the creeping, ill-thought out privatisation of health services."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/09/06/cnhs06.xml
As Health Direct noted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 DHL signs £22 billion NHS supply deal this DHL outsource deal is the biggest yet bar Network Rail in the history of Labour's incompetence.
On Tuesday, the Government confirmed that DHL would take over £22bn worth of buying and distribution for about 600 hospitals. Shares in Deutsche Post, DHL's parent, rose on news that the 10-year contract was worth up to £1.6bn a year.
Union leaders said it was the biggest "privatisation" of NHS services to date. Some 1,700 staff working for two NHS divisions, Logistics, and Purchasing and Supply, will be transferred to a new company from October 1.
Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, said: "Our members are proud to work for the NHS and feel betrayed by a Government that is handing them over to DHL, like one of the packages they deliver. The Government's decision to privatise it is driven by pure dogma."
The GMB, as well as representing NHS workers, is also the main union at DHL.
Sharon Holder, GMB national officer, said members in the NHS and DHL would "seek common ground" to oppose the deal. She said: "It is part of the creeping, ill-thought out privatisation of health services."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2006/09/06/cnhs06.xml
As Health Direct noted on Tuesday, September 05, 2006 DHL signs £22 billion NHS supply deal this DHL outsource deal is the biggest yet bar Network Rail in the history of Labour's incompetence.
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