Unison – the biggest health workers union – yesterday staged a picket of Chase Farm Hospital against the threat to close the hospital’s A&E, Maternity and Children’s departments, and in defence of jobs and against the privatisation of the NHS.
Over 50 people took part in the demonstration to show that they are going to fight all cuts and stop the destruction of the health service.
Derek Helyar, Unison regional officer, when asked if he would support an occupation to keep Chase Farm open, said: ‘I’d support my branch if they wanted to occupy.
‘I think the picket is great, considering I was only expecting about a dozen.
‘I want to thank all the support groups.
‘Barnet and Chase Farm have culled 250 posts between November and January this year and now are embarking on a further 250 job cuts.
‘This time there will be redundancies.
‘Almost ten per cent of the total workforce will be cut.’
When asked what kind of action should be taken, he said: ‘I think action like this, that we’re doing now.
‘I would never rule out the potential for strike action if the government continues to savage the National Health Service and our public services generally.
‘We’re against all the cuts in services, not just health.
‘Unison fully support leaving the hospital as it is and urge a bigger financial input, not cuts.’
Another picket, Michael Schofield, told News Line he was a collection delivery driver at the service department for Renault in Enfield.
He said: ‘I was made redundant and basically it was due to the last government.
‘I was never a red, but I’m thinking of a general strike.’
