On Wednesday 19th March 2008 UNISON Northumbria Healthcare at Wansbeck General Hospital were visited by a delegation from Colombia South America.
The two Colombian Delegates were Carlos Gonzales, Trade Union Activist and Olga Alauja Human rights activist, they were accompanied by Alyson Grainger interpreter and Kenny Bell Unisons northern region deputy convenor.
They were met by George Barron Unison Branch Secretary and various Unison Stewards.
George took them around the hospital, were they visited the following Departments A&E, X-Ray and General Theatres, as well as talking to various staff in the corridors. Unison would like to thank all staff in these departments who met and spoke with our guests.
Carlos and Olga mentioned they were very envious of the facilities our NHS has and felt that the hospital was very clean and bright, they said the domestics must be very good we took them to A&E and they wondered why there were not patients and bodies lying all over (that apparently is what it’s like in Colombia). They thought A&E and Theatres were out of this world in comparison with back
home.
After the tour of the hospital, Unison stewards had brief Question and Answer session and discussion.
George Barron said “I felt quite humble and ended up with a lump in my throat; Carlos and Olga were telling us a couple of weeks ago some friends of theirs (hospital workers) were shot and killed, their crime was being an activist in the hospital workers trade union in Colombia “They are oppressed by dictatorship”.
When we asked if we could help in any way, they said they wanted solidarity with other Trade Unionists around the world and more than anything else wanted to have elected members of Government such as we have who they could approach and get to act on their behalf.
I know the other Unison Stewards found it quite daunting to hear these stories. So whilst we can’t diverse from any problems we have in England it does make you sit back and think.
Thanks once again to everyone who participated
The two Colombian Delegates were Carlos Gonzales, Trade Union Activist and Olga Alauja Human rights activist, they were accompanied by Alyson Grainger interpreter and Kenny Bell Unisons northern region deputy convenor.
They were met by George Barron Unison Branch Secretary and various Unison Stewards.
George took them around the hospital, were they visited the following Departments A&E, X-Ray and General Theatres, as well as talking to various staff in the corridors. Unison would like to thank all staff in these departments who met and spoke with our guests.
Carlos and Olga mentioned they were very envious of the facilities our NHS has and felt that the hospital was very clean and bright, they said the domestics must be very good we took them to A&E and they wondered why there were not patients and bodies lying all over (that apparently is what it’s like in Colombia). They thought A&E and Theatres were out of this world in comparison with back
home.
After the tour of the hospital, Unison stewards had brief Question and Answer session and discussion.
George Barron said “I felt quite humble and ended up with a lump in my throat; Carlos and Olga were telling us a couple of weeks ago some friends of theirs (hospital workers) were shot and killed, their crime was being an activist in the hospital workers trade union in Colombia “They are oppressed by dictatorship”.
When we asked if we could help in any way, they said they wanted solidarity with other Trade Unionists around the world and more than anything else wanted to have elected members of Government such as we have who they could approach and get to act on their behalf.
I know the other Unison Stewards found it quite daunting to hear these stories. So whilst we can’t diverse from any problems we have in England it does make you sit back and think.
Thanks once again to everyone who participated
