Lobby Called Against Nhs Cuts

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A national initiative to lead the cuts in the Health Service is crucial. It was for this reason a positive step forward last year when some 400 trade unionists came together at a conference convened by the Medical Committee Against Private Practice, and formed the National Coordinating Committee (NCC).

At the conference a programme to defend the Health Service was adopted, including the fight to set up Joint Trade Union Committees in each area within the NHS, the fight for the books of the Area Health Authorities to be opened to elected trade union committees, and the demand for a sliding scale of state spending to protect the NHS from inflation.In the Spring of this year the NCC called an 800-strong national demonstration, and have organised a number of lobbies against private practice.

But the centrai weakness of the NCC is that it has not actively intervened in the fight against hospital closures or cuts at local level, even where hospital workers themselves have begun a fight back.

• This produces some glaring inconsistencies. The National Executive of NALGO sends a representative to the NCC - yet during the recent one day strike against the closure of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital in London, SCaLed nase Strikely union that ONLY Yet the NCC despite its obvious limitations remains the only national body fighting for united action against the cuts.

It is essential that the affiliated bodies should take up the fight to break the tendency to leit talk detached from action which now characterises the bureaucracy of all health service unions.

The NCC in short must form the arena for sharpening the fight for leadership against the cuts. Only in this way can the committee move from protest to action.

At present the NCC is pursuing two campaigns - for a Lobby of the Labour Party Conference on 29th September in Blackpool, and a petition for submission to that conference, which calls for the implementation of last year's resolution which rejected cuts, called for an end to private practice, nationaiisation of NHS suppliers, and extension of the service under PARTICIPATION'S FIRST CAMPAIGN democratically elected management.

The Workers Socialist League supports this lobby and calls on all members and supporters to give it ful backing in the labour movement. breathe quality improvement. If the quality of the individual's performance is good enough then the quality of the end product will take care of itself."

DISCIPLINE

In other words the joyful "quality" campaign is to be pushed along by a hefty dose of discipline - imposed of course by the foremen, industrial engineers and superintendants who are so disproportionately well represented in the "participation" set-up.

But the real tone of this reactionary charade can only be judged by comparing the statements made by management and "union reps" . See if you can spot the difference. The answers are upside down at the bottom of the (A) "From the shop floor, through the offices, supervision up to the managing director, if 121,593 of us within Leyland cars controi quality we wil be home and dry with secure future." (B) "I have been asked why 1 am backing quality generally and Quality 77 specifically. The answer is simple - to ensure that next week, next month, next year, and for many years to come we will have a high standing against our competitors and the security that goes with it. Our jobs are riding on NCC demonstration But at the same time the fight must be stepped up for all-out trike action to stop the cuts now being wormed in by NHS adiministrators in many areas. TOIPARTICIPATE One of Leyland's new posters however a very competitive one, and the customer is looking not only for the right vehicle, but for quality and reliability which is beyond question." (D) "I am realistic enough though to realise that things will not change overnight but given the right spirit and endeavours I am convinced we can produce the right goods to see our competitors off." (E) "We have only one right and that is the right to compete, through quality and availability, for the allegiance of our customers. The world does not owe us a living. If Leyland Cars loses one customer, one Leyland Cars employee may lose a job. That is why we need Quality 77. It is not a gimmick -it is our meal ticket for today, tomorrow and the future.' (F) "Without you we don't stand a chance. If the will for quality is developed with us all, we can grab that vital bit extra of the world markets and give ourselves the reputation we undoubtedly deserve."

difference? the Did you spot tative" represen- member,. "employee eering; (F) Derek Robinson, CP Fred Maxwell, director of enginrepresentative"; (E) "employee Richards entative"; (D) 'Mick' Peter Nicholas "employee repres Whittaker, managing director; (C) (B) "Derek representative";