Mass meeting 'no' to closure

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Health service shop stewards in Paddington and North Kensington have successfully begun the battle to stop the run down and closure of St. Mary's Hospital in Harrow Road.

Following speeches by shop stewards from NUPE, TGWU and ASTMS, a mass meeting at the hospital on 12th September voted unanimously to fight the closure and elected a Hospital Defence Committee.

As a result of a press conference held after the mass meeting, the local press has given extensive coverage to the shop AT THE Shop stewards also attended a recent Community Health Council public meeting, where a motion was carried opposing any management scheme that would mean the closure of a local hospital or clinic. Despite a direct challenge by a member of the WSL, however, CHC members present refused to commit themselves on the question of the closure or on the health service cuts in general.

Shop stewards Following up their initiative, shop stewards Joe Beckles (TGWU) and Colin Kenny, (ASTMS) then attended a meeting of EVERY WORKER IN THE PLANT FOR A PROTEST MEETING NEXT SUNDAY! WE'LL WRITE ANGRY LETTERS TO PARLIAMENT.. THERELL BE A ONE HOUKS WORK TO RULE ON THE FIRST DAY EVERY MONTH, JUST YOU SEE.... Paddington Labour Party General Council on Tuesday 19th September.

Although 'Area Health Authority chairman, John Dunwoody (an ex-Labour junior minister) took up most of the available time, the shop stewards put forward a programme of opposition to the cuts.

Whole strategy ASTMS shop steward Colin Kenny, said that what was needed from Labour Party activists was a fight against the whole strategy of the Labour government, which was directed at making workers pay for the crisis of capitalism.

He argued that they should demand a Labour HOWAM I EXPECTED (COME ON OFISHALL TO SELL THAT TO MY FACE REALITY... YOU ALL OUTI NO WAGE STRIKE KONTROL movement inquiry into the real needs of Paddington workers for health care.

They should also fight to force the health service unions to take effective action against the Labour leadership's policies; and for all prospective Labour Party candidates to be mandated to vote against the economic strategy of Callaghan and Healey in Parliament, he said.

Local "left" MP, Arthur Latham, sat predictably silent through the discussion.

The St. Mary's Hospital Defence Committee is calling for a public meeting in early October to consolidate support from local Labour movement bodies. which exceeds the government's Phase 4 pay limits.

The firm is not only sticking firmly to the 5% limit, but is also attempting to include within that sum an increase in shift premiums - which means in effect a rise of only 32%.

A VICIOUS ATTACK has been launched on the workforce of two major firms in Winsford, Cheshire, with the open revelation of a management blacklist operated by Winsford Engineering.

The blacklist, which applies to workers who have previously been employed at International Computers or Metal Box, has been given favourable publicity by press and television.

Socialist Press next week will examine some of the background to this witchhunt.

/IT'S IMPOSSIBLE MR FORD-YOU FORCE ME TO TAKE RUTHLESS ACTION! (AHEM... MY COMMITTEE AND MAY EVEN HAVETO-ERCONSIDER tHE POSSIBILITY •OF-UM.. SOME FORM OFHOW DO YOU SAY- *STRIKE ACTION SITUATION"?

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SOCIALIST SOCIALIST

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ONLY 5% (PM WARNING YOU-P'LL PETITION)

MEMBERS?! HAVENO OPTIONS, (...FURTHER MORE, PLL.).