Privatised Service Staff Will Suffer Say SSP

Glenrothes SSP Press Release 05 August 2002
The SSP in Fife pointed to recent industrial action taken by hospital ancillary staff employed by private contractor Sodexho in Glasgow, and warned that the proposals to fund the redevelopment of the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy using the controversial Public Private Partnership (PPP), and Sodexho's involvement in a PPP deal to build three schools could lead to similar disputes in Fife.

Glenrothes Branch spokesman Jim Balfour said, "Sodexho's actions in Glasgow are typical of their conduct world-wide. They appear to be in constant conflict with unions over workers' pay and conditions. I have no doubt that workers in Fife will face similar problems."

Sodexho, the French multinational selected by the government to operate the discredited voucher system for asylum seekers, are also part of the pinnacle Schools consortium contracted to build three schools in a deal which will cost Fifers £160 million - five times the 1999 projections for the project.

The SSP view this as an additional insult to local people given the Scottish Executive's £643 million underspend.

"Private Partner Profiteering further undermines the infrastructure of public services already decimated by decades of under-investment," concluded Mr Balfour.