[As we go to press, the odds seem…]

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As we go to press, the odds seem stacked against Labour leader Callaghan winning the conference battle against: democratic reforms-but possibly in favour of him winning the war.

While a rare display of eveof-conference resistance by 'lefts' on the Party's National Executive ensured that the three contentious reforms will go to a vote on Tuesday, the NEC also simultaneously conceded that the forthcoming party inquiry will be able to propose reversing any changes that occur.

General secretaries

PHOTO: PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Report Albert General health ARIIAN Spanswick, Secretary of the service union CUMSE, graddea the neaa- Land lines last week with his talk of occupying hospitals to prevent closure.

Such a policy, if carried out as national policy with the full backing of the 215,000 union and other public sector unions, could play a major role in advancing the struggle against the Tory cuts.

It would provide in every area a focus around which the local labour movement could develop mass strike action in defence of jobs and public services-a rallying point for the necessary struggle to bring down the Tories.

But Spanswick doesn't see it like that. He stressed that COHSE does not plan a political campaign of industrial action against the cuts.

COHSE leaders see their "work-in" policy as the opposite of such a campaign.

They refer to the outcome of the 30-month Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital workPHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Spanswick in-in which the hospital has now been closed as a general hospital for treatment of women and may, possibly, reopen, as a gynaecological hospital, in 3 years' time-as a "success"' There is little doubt that the Tories would dearly love to see COHSE deliver similar "successes" to their membership in other parts of the country!

Spanswick has also declared that COHSE would initiate occupations only in selected "viable" hospitals-while other hospitals, wards, clinics and facilities will clearly be abandoned without a fight to the Tories' closure plans.

Behind the 'left' bluster of Spanswick's "work in" scheme is the tired old diversionary tactic of "selective action' calculated to divide, confuse, mislead and demoralise health service workers, who are showing themselves increasingly ready to take determined action to defend the NHS.

But this should not let Spanswick and others off the hook. Now that the COHSE leaders have raised the issue of occupation, health workers in every area should press forward with demands that their own local leaders adopt and implement the policy, in defence of jobs and services.

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Workers TWO DAYS after a one-day strike against the cuts by workers in the borough, Fulham workers moved in on September 30 to occupy the local swimming baths to prevent their closure.

The action followed a packed Town Hall meeting last Wednesday at which a WSL speaker from the floor had urged that occupation, linked to supporting strikes was the only way in which the Tory Council could be stopped.

The Baths are now being occupied around the clock by local trade unionists, who are appealing for assistance from skilled engineers and supporters in keeping them functioning and manning the occupation.

Funds are urgently needed.

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