Stewards Call : Strike to Stop Ega Closure Workers Enquiry Photo: John Sturrock, Report N. up E

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21 July two years ago - workers strike and demonstrate in support of the EGA. Ennals that the EGA is to unionists and supporters, be closed on July 21 shows which was strong enough to that unless fresh action is prompt NUPE regional taken to halt the cutbacks, official Mike Taylor to this 2-year struggle could threaten "rotating one day provoked an immediate res- Support ponse from local trade reaffirmed Occupation Two years ago strike action in London hospitals, followed six months later by a tenacious workers' occupation that still continues at the EGA, succee led in staving off government moves to axe the hospital, and made the EGA the main focus for the fight against health service cuts nationally.

But the announcement last week in Parliament by Health Secretary David This Saturday (May 27) marks an important step forward for the Oxford City Nursery face defeat.

This announcement pitals. strikes" among London hoswas also during the week Groups fighting particular cuts must carry the fight into the trades council and individual unions to provide a base for industrial and at a meeting between EGA stewards and staff and representatives of NUPE, COHSE, ASTMS and NALGO.

On Friday the EGA Campaign Committee organised a 300-strong rally which blocked Euston Road for scheduled on the agenda.

Amidst huge banners proclaiming "NUPE Fights the Cuts" Alan Fisher and fellow treacherous bureauObserver machine minders who refused to sign a legaily binding pledge never to take unofficial action again, stand to have their union cards, their jobs and their future livelihoods stripped from them.

But the body carrying out this assault is not an employer but the National Council of the National Graphical Association!

The machine minders crime? They demanded the Observer management honour a pledge they made when they bought the newspaper to restore manning levels.

In an atmosphere of mounting witch-hunt the machine minders took action two weeks ago to press a claim for improved manning that had been outstanding for several months and had already stopped production last year.

When the American oil giant -Atlantic Richfield-bought the Observer more than a year ago, workers were persuaded to accept drastically reduced manning levels to 'save' their jobs.

The 25 machine minders demanded that numbers be made back up to 30.

The Observer management's response was to travel to Bedford to tell General Secretary Joe Wade that they would close forever if the machine minders did not guarantee uninterrupted production.

some 20 minutes.

But the scale of the reaction has been enough to force Ennals to change tactics. On Thursday he reaffirmed his determination to shut the EGA, but refused to put a closure date.

This means that instead of a definite date for an all-out struggle, Ennals hopes now to run the hospital down and defuse resistance from trade unionists.

The situation is now more, not less, dangerous for the EGA. The process of running down the hospital has already been stepped up by the authorities during other 30 National Council members were fully prepared to act on it.

NGA members at the Observer were given a form to sign by the union pledging that they would not disrupt If they refused, Wade promised the Observer management he would provide scab labour to do the work and dscipline the members.

The ultimatum persuaded 12 of the workers to sign. Incredibly-given the pressure they were under-the rest held firm.

The Observer's threat proved to be empty. They ran on two presses and produced 400,000 copies of a small size paperabout half their usual print run.

The attack demands immediate solidarity by other print workers.

It demonstrates the need to reject all the phony arguments about 'viability' and the need for the immediate nationalisation of Fleet Street under workers management.

Drop disciplinary action

the Observer and Reveille!

No union scabs!

Workers: committees to decide pay and manning levels!

Demand access to all company finances and secrets!

Nationalise Fleet Street papers under workers management!

EGA stewards.

3. The branch resolves to take indefinite strike action from the! moment the running of the EGA is interfered with.

4. The branch calls on the TUC and national union leaderships to call for national action in defence of the EGA."

Only action along these lines can save the EGA and EGA stewards, most of whom agree with the above resolution, must give a clear lead in this fight.

Cuts Protest rallies and appeals for "public sympathy" are not enough