Hospital Work-in Gains

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win"-steward -GET TIE DOS CUTS: UNDER Sharing out Christmas cake in the occupation: COHSE members Vi Since December 2 Longworth work-in by staff fighting to prever Press interviewed COHSE membe they have waged so far.

You've been in occupation for a month now. How is it progressing?

Very well, we've got a lot more support now than we had initially from inside the hospital and outside. Support is coming in from all over Oxfordshire. The Oxford and Witney Trades Councils, NUPE, NUJ, SOGAT, and even the same Labour Party General Management Committee that Lady McCarthy (AHA Chairman) sits on as well as local Labour Party wards.

We've had visits from Sheffield steel workers and American hospital workers and from medical students. It has stimulated a terrific response as you can see.

In what ways has your union taken up the fight?

They've not been very good at all so far. They haven't been pulling out their fingers far enough!

They've done nothing yet, materially or otherwise. There has been no propaganda put out by the union, not even one COHSE poster yet!

They made it official nationHospital in rural Oxfordshire has it its closure with the loss of 35 ge rs Barbara Russell and Myra Bun ally three weeks after the day of the occupation but they should be going all out to get other sections out in support. It's all being left to the occupation committee when they should be doing it.

What do you want the union to take up?

We want the union to do some of the things we've been doing. We want a national campaign, not for it just to stop Longworth from closing but a real fight against the cuts and this government.

We're not going to let it go the way other hospital campaigns have gone. The government has got away with it in other hospitals.

COHSE should be doing their bit strongly. COHSE officers wanted us to accept a compromise at the beginning, to suspend the action, call it off on the grounds that the staff would get tired and that we wouldn't have the support over Christmas. That was their excuse-but we held it and that was it. Under difficult conditions.

What's the the purpose of picket?

Well at the moment, we've only got a token picket on the gate permanently, but we don't want any officials from the AHA to come and remove the patients and the NUPE . ambulance drivers have guaranteed that they won't remove patients as long as there is a picket at the gate.

What has been the AHA?

They've sought to wear us down, picking out individuals and harassing them. They are constantly ringing up and asking individuals questions which should be put to the occupation committee. They started on my family too. There was an daughter's Baby baby had an emergency k at home. My accident.

The Sector Manager followed me to her home on the pretence that there was an emergency situation at the hospital. He was harassing me to allow him into the hospital against the wishes of the Occupation Committee.

They also spread allegations that we allowed the patients to be photographed in commodes -all unfounded lies.

The AHA are also encouraging the RCN, who have organised a secret ballot of their members at the hospital. The Offall AT THE been the riatric bec gay abou ballot actually asks if they would like to be suspended on full pay while the occupation continues.

This is aimed at dividing the workers there and to persuade trained staff to withdraw their labour from the hospital.

They also cancelled all admissions into the day hospital for a week. This meant the patients didn't get treatment which was essential, especially after the Christmas holiday.

Untrue

The patients thought it was the occupation committee that was responsible. But management temporarily closed the day hospital saying that there was a shortage of staff which was totally untrue.

What is the next step?

To get meetings in other sections to agree to supporting strike action if the AHA move to break the occupation by force.

But we also want COHSE to act first and show a lead.

We've also got to combat Lady McCarthy's attack against the interests of the workersshe being in the Labour Party and all.

How do you see it in a national context!

We are determined to keep the hospital open. To stop the cuts right here. It's the first hospital occupation after St. Benedicts.

We have the support of the two major union branches in British Leyland locally. We have to open out the struggle. Have you been involved in action like this before?

No. I'm knackered but still determined as ever. You've got to be.

My immediate family is also involved. We're all together in the fight and shall keep on that way. Stick it out.

Messages of donations to the should be sent Russell, Whitebs Farringdon Roac Abingdon, Oxon.

scene of a s. Socialist t the fight and defence fund to Bi rbara ad Co tage, , Longy orth, RAPPY NEWYEAR OFISHALL! THERE'S A LOST OF MAIL CANT YOU DEAL WITH HERE FOR YOU! IT? USE SOME OF OUR STANDNRDISED REPLIES!

WHAT? YOU MEAN A DAY OF MASSINE ACTION AGAINST THE TORY AT LAST! I KNEW YOU'D DO IT.

O'FISHALL ! Bradbury and Barbara Russell gung Montes OCCUPATION PICKET ROTA -COMSE Fear, Margaret

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NHS L'WORTH HOSP ATTACK