Journalists occupy against sackings

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WHOLE YEAR BOGGED DOWN WITH OUR MEMBERS) tation by snatching the patients as other AHAs have done, she resorted to blackmail!

The new Witney Hospital, due to open after Christmas, would stay shut as long as Longworth Hospital remained occupied, she announced as there was not enough money' for both and she was not prepared to have the patients "frightened and confused"

Blatant lie

This last was a blatant lie, as the staff's first. concern throughout has been to protect the patients by ensuring continued care, so that their life continues absolutely as normal.

The courage of the occupation committee who remained strong in the face of this blackmail and the attempted sellout, was well rewarded.

Many staff inside the hospital who had been wavering were won round to supporting the occupation.

• A record number of relatives visited the hospital that weekend and approved of the occupation when it was discussed with them.

Support and offers UNION DUES The struggle of 65 NUJ members against redundancies in the British Printing Corporation's Publishing Division took a new turn Last week when the chapel occupied company premises in response to a management lock-out.

Three weeks ago the company sacked all 65 members.

They had issued warnings over disruptive action taken by the chapel against the second wave of redundancies from the company this year.

Some months back the chapel had mixed success over an initial group of redundancies.

Some jobs were saved through chapel pressure in the form of disruptive action, mandatory meetings and selecshall AT THE tive strikes and pickets.

In the latest round of redundancies the chapel has so far saved two jobs out of nine.

Of the remaining seven, five became difficult to defend when the individuals named by the company, opted to take voluntary redundancy. The chapel remains firmly committed to defending the other two jobs.

One factor in the chapel's resolve is that the redundancies have been directed almost exclusively at chapel members though they represent only 60% of editorial staff. Furthermore chapel officers have been amongst those named.

Initially the chapel pursued the same strategy as for the first round of redundancies but this time the company issued warnings which culminated in mass MORE RUDDY SACKINGS! I SEEM TO MAVE SPENT THE GRIPES AND GROANS...

THERE'LL SOON ONLY BE 2 RESPONSIBLE PROPLE LEFT IN THIS UNION -YOU AND ME sackings.

The chapel esponded by continuing to turn up for work.

Last Monday 8 November, chapel members arriving for work found their way barred by security men. The chapel nevertheless found a way up to the sixth floor of the building where they promptly decided to occupy.

The chapel has also begun picketing at other sites, in particular Polton House, Shepherdess Walk where production is continuing. Police from the local City Road police station have been heavy on the pickets -limiting the number to four.

The action is gaining support from NUJ members in other book and magazine houses and will obviously become a main focus for a conference the NUJ is organising for January around redundancies in the industry.

FIRST, TAEY WANTED A WAGE INCRRASE... THEN THEY MOANID ABOUT REDUNDANCIES REMEMBER THAT TALK OF ELECTING OFFICIALS?!

THAT SOUNDS UKE SHEER BLISS! NO MORE PHONE CALLS- CONFERENCES- RALLIES-MASS MEETINGS OR STRIKES- JUST T.U.C.

BINGES AND LONG HOLIDAYS!

H'MMM- BUT THERE'S JUST ONE SMALL SNAG.. official from AUEW/TASS, a Labour Party speaker, and Winsford WSL secretary Dave Murphy.

After a lively discussion the following resolution, calling for the formation of a council of action to combat the tidal wave of closures in the area, was unanimously carried:

"The unemployed figure of 2½ million and rising fast; factories closing and redundancies being announced each day; hospitals, schools and social services being closed in every area; the school meals system virtually ended; counci house building at a standstill; rent increases on the agenda; mortgage payments up, and the homeless figure soaring; 15% inflation means plummetIst RESS

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DAILY RAG SEN AT "NA!.