Unions take the Lead??

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis Wednesday December 05, 2007 11:52 by L Spader

The health trust in Craigavon are going to close two respite wards in Lurgan Hospital and farm out the service to the private sector. This is the type of social issue that Trade Unions should be getting involved with, but as usual the leadership is somewhat lacking.

The Trade Union UNISON held a public meeting last month to highlight the plans to close the respite wards in Lurgan hospital. Ever the big talker Lilly Kerr stated that UNISON wouldn't stand by and watch this vital service be privatised. Those with a social concience welcomed this bold statement and awaited the campaign ready to do their bit to attempt to force the trust to reconsider their shameful decision..To date nothing has happened, to my knowledge in the next couple of weeks the trust is to meet and confirm the closure. I have heard there is a suggestion that on the night of the Trust's meeting there should be a demonstration at the hospital. This to me seems to be a pathetic waste of time, and smacks of a useless publicity stunt with no real chance of success. Does UNISON realise that the whole idea was to block the privitisation not just moan about it when it happens.
UNISON's actions can be looked at in different ways. Firstly you could just shake your head and say, typical UNISON talking a good show but not doing that much. Secondly a more critical analysis would say that UNISON have ducked out of thier responsibilities to the wider community by not mounting a credible defence of these services. However a third and much more serious analysis could come to the conclusion, that UNISON has colluded with the Trust to head off any serious opposition to these closures, allowing them to go through with a wimper of complaint that will soon be forgotten. None of these options cover UNISON in any glory, just differing degrees of shame.