Despite the obvious damage created by fragmentation of our public services the Notts CCG decided to press ahead with the privatisation of emergency dental services to a private company which immediately played fast and loose with you members jobs.
The service was due to be handed over on 31st March in the middle of the biggest peacetime disaster to confront the Country, and if that was not bad enough, the new provider refused to accept TUPE applied leaving staff at risk of losing their jobs.
One of the reasons that Government was slow to act on the Covid-19 pandemic and have found it difficult to distribute basic PPE to front-line workers is because of the complete splintering of public services through extensive privatisation.
Public services are interdependent on each other, the big general hospital works efficiently only if community services are properly funded and organised. And in times of emergency you need a clear chain of command. Austerity and privatisation have been allowed to scew priorities, planning has been replaced with service specification, responsibility and accountability has been abdicated to contract compliance.
UNISON’s Regional Organiser Dave Ratchford said “we told the CCG and the new employer that if they didn’t give an absolute assurance that TUPE applied, together with a guarantee on worker protections, we would do everything in our power to expose their reckless behaviour.”
Pressure was eventually brought to bear on the contractor who eventually accepted the transfer of staff. Obviously, not ideal, the service is still privatised, but we saved jobs and we will continue to protect those workers going forward.
As the COVID-19 virus spreads, find out what your rights at work are here