PLUCKY care workers putting up an inspirational industrial fight against privateer pay cuts have recorded their own anthem to raise cash for their strike fund, the Star can reveal.

Doncaster health workers voted on Monday evening to escalate their 11-month struggle against pay cuts and harsh conditions imposed by employer Care UK.

A three-week strike — their longest to date — won unanimous support at a packed meeting in the town’s Trades and Labour Club.

They have already completed 48 days of strike action, which is the second-longest period of industrial action in the history of the NHS.

And, determined not to be defeated, the strikers have now formed a choir and recorded a CD to raise funds and spread their message.

The Care UK Strikers’ Choir was formed after a local supporter penned words for their own picket-line hymn and offered to foot the bill for the recording costs.

Their CD will go on sale soon and a preview of the song has been uploaded to YouTube.

Ann-Marie Tetley is one of the dozen striking singers, including 11 women and one man, who recorded the anthem to raise cash and morale.

She told the Morning Star: “We’ve had some good media coverage but we wanted to bring the dispute to a wider audience that might not be aware of it.

“The lines include: ‘We’re fighting for the NHS we are we are, We won’t be conned by the government’s lies, We’ll occupy and nationalise, We’re fighting for the NHS until the day we die’.”

The strikers returned to work yesterday following a two week stoppage.

During the walkout, a delegation of 50 strikers doorstepped bosses of Bridgewater Finance, the profit-hungry investment firm which owns Care UK and is cashing in on the government’s privatisation of the NHS, at their swanky London headquarters.

The care workers look after disabled and vulnerable people in Doncaster, helping them remain independent.

They were NHS employees but contracted to Doncaster Council until it invited bids for the contract and the NHS was undercut by Care UK.

Within weeks the firm attacked working conditions and slashed wages by up to 35 per cent to boost profits.

The 150 workers, who are members of public-service union Unison, have responded by launching a landmark industrial dispute.

Britain’s anti-union laws mean employers have to be given one week’s notice before the latest action is implemented.

But Unison organiser Jim Bell said that the workers “want it to start as soon as possible, possibly next week.”

Support for the strike has come from other workers in struggle, including the Fire Brigades Union and civil servants’ union PCS.

“Whenever we have a march or rally there are people from Unison branches across Yorkshire and beyond. In the local area the strikers are applauded in the streets,” added Mr Bell.

nTo support the Care UK strike send cheques made out to Doncaster Unison 20511 to Unison, Jenkinson House, White Rose Way, Doncaster DN4 5GJ.

The song can be found at: http://youtu.be/ZvT7BcMnCZQ