The Executive Committee of Bolton TUC send congratulations on behalf of all its members to those workers at Royal Bolton Hospital who took strike action recently.

The employer - arms length company IFM - has now agreed to pay them the same wage on the same conditions as their NHS colleagues.

This represents a 14 per cent pay increase, and goes some way to reflecting the important work they do.

It also, crucially, honours the contract for pay alignment previously agreed by the employer.

This was a courageous fight by Unison members at the hospital.

The support they received throughout from other trade unions was also impressive.

Now other workers struggling against austerity can take heart - united action gets results!

Tom Hanley

Bolton TUC