Pickets, Great Western Hospital, Swindon (2 of 2)

Image: © Brian Robert Marshall Taken: 14 Feb 2012

The GWH was opened in 2001 and is a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) development. The site was developed by Carillion Plc, a construction and services company demerged from the Tarmac group in 1999. The cost of developing the hospital buildings and plant was met in large part by Carillion who retain ownership. Their return on the investment comes from payments to them from the Great Western National Health Service Foundation Trust. The site is maintained by Carillion and the service includes the provision of ancillary services such as cleaning and porterage. Carillion employ the cleaning and portering staff. Many of the cleaners are of Goan origin, coming from Goa, a small but relatively wealthy Indian state. Recently, some of these staff have become discontented with certain of their working conditions and have made allegations of "bullying and harassment". Another significant grievance concerns holiday arrangements. The Goans are seeking to be allowed as of right to have four-week holiday periods thus enabling them to have sufficient time to make the long journey home to Goa worthwhile. Relations between workers and their employers have broken down to the extent that the workers have decided to stage three one-day strikes. Today is the first of these. Although the strikers are members of a trade union it appears that the employers do not recognise the union and not all their staff are members of it. Local reports indicate that Carillion have been able to continue to provide enough staff to cover for the absent strikers. The pickets are seen in this image as they sit on the edge of the eastbound carriageway opposite the hospital entrance. See also http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2804160 and http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/9529200.Workers_strike_outside_GWH/ and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-17024114

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