Independent Workers Union

trabalhadores@union.ie

Universi is the Independent Workers Union’s branch for health workers in Northern Ireland. Independent Workers Union president Patricia Campbell takes a special interest in this branch.

What We Do Does Matter

by Patricia Campbell – Northern Ireland

This article was first carried on the International Health Workers for People over Profits website,  http://www.healthworkersinternational.org/

I can sometimes identify with the feeling that “what we do doesn’t matter,” but not today. Today we collected our mobile phones issued to us by our employer.

Our union fought for the provision of mobile phones, which are vital to assist us in our work in the community. Our employer resisted at all costs. First they ignored us. When we shouted louder they had to listen, but they tried to fob us off by informing us they were “looking into it.” If ‘looking into it’ provided mobile phones, we’d have received them long ago.

We shouted louder by raising the matter with the Chief Executive of the Trust. They continued to ignore us so we shouted louder by raising the matter with an elected representative and finally an independent statutory body. They give in, and today we picked up our mobile phones.

Some might say, what’s the big deal? It’s only a mobile phone. The principle is much larger than a simple mobile phone. We WON this. And we will win more, because this victory will instil confidence in our members.

We have learned that WHAT WE DO DOES MATTER.

Patricia Campbell works as a community psychiatric nurse in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She is also president of the Independent Workers Union of Ireland and a co-founder of its affiliate, UNIVERSI, a health workers’ union.

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