MORE than 200 workers from the Institute of Cancer Research rallied outside South Kensington tube station yesterday, joined by delegations from UCU, Unison and the RMT, and by staff from the ICR’s Sutton branch, as the dispute moved to indefinite strike action.
Tiegh Matthews Palmer, one of the Unite reps at the ICR, opened the rally.
‘We are not leaving it for the people at the top who say they are the decision makers. We have become the decision makers because we have taken action. We are linking arms, we are building unity and solidarity. It’s amazing what you have been doing. It’s paying dividends already.
‘Now we are serving indefinite action. What does that mean? It means what has always been true, but we have made it formal. We will not be back in the workplace until a good enough deal is on the table that we can accept.’
Mel Mullins, an RMT representative, spoke next.
‘The RMT is small but very mighty, because of the fact that we stick together. We recognise our power, and the fact that you have taken action means that you have recognised your power. It’s a disgrace. The people at the top, they call themselves bosses, but what do they do? The workers are expected to pay their rent, mortgage and look after children.
‘Some of us have to send money back home to our families. Our services are crumbling, but when we ask for fair pay, what do they say? You don’t deserve it. Why should you have to go through a process where you are managing the decline of your own work and your terms and conditions? You do one of the most important jobs.
‘Anyone who has had members of their family or friends who suffer from cancer knows it’s important work that has to be done.’
Khafedi, from Healthcare Workers for Freedom in Palestine, brought solidarity from the campaign.
‘One of your members came to our meeting two weeks ago and told us that you’ve been on strike for weeks, fighting management, fighting the narratives of scarcity, and being out here consistently, not taking nonsense and not lowering your demands.
‘Massive respects to everyone that’s withheld their labour. Let’s continue the fight.
‘I’m from Healthcare Workers for Freedom in Palestine, and one of our campaigns is to fight to get Palantir out of the NHS. Palantir are an American AI company that works directly with the Israeli government and with the IOF.
‘They are directly complicit in the genocide in Gaza. In 2023 the NHS gave Palantir a £330 million contract. There’s no money, but there’s money for them. We are organising to get these evil companies out of our NHS.’
