Hospital Occupation

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With the closure of the Hospital (EGA) in Camden only weeks away, workers at the hospital, meeting on 23rd September, unanimously passed the following resolution:

"Whilst acknowledging with gratitude the cooperation of all members of the Whittington staff in the present emergency, the staff of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital are opposed to the suggestion that the remaining in-patients be moved to the Whittington Hospital.

We no longer believe the Camden and Islington Area Health Authority or the DHSS have any intention of providing a longterm alternative. Therefore we are determined to stay on the site and to organise a work-in if necessary. "

(our emphasis)

This statement of 'no confidence' in the AHA and the intention to stage a work-in if the closure Proceeds, represents the culmination of a long struggle to save the EGA.

FAILED Public meetings, pickets, a one-day strike and a mass lobby at the House of Commons have all failed to reverse the decision of the AHA that the hospital should be closed. (Which is not surprising as the EGA closure is just a small part of the cut-backs in the NHS which are vital planks of right-wing Labour Government policy.)

The workers there have therefore now voted to take the only. action remaining to them-- to take control of the hospital themVANERS selves.

How has this decision been received by the trade unions represented at the hospital?

NUPE - have indicated their intention to give official recognition to a work-in ,and suggested lobbying a NUPE-sponsored MP -just in case he might be more interested in leading a fight than Camden's Lena Jager and Jock Stallard have been.

ASTMS - have indicated their intention to give official recognition to a work-in.

NALGO - silence.

G&MWU - silence.

If EGA workers do stage'a workin it will be the first time such action has occurred in a hospital in this country.

For that reason, these relatively inexperienced workers require leadership from their union officials (who are paid by the membership for just such leadership) in organising the work-in.

At the Labour Party Conference NUPE General Secretary Alan Fisher paraded as the leftest-of-the lefts in pushing for resolutions against the cuts to public services.

Fisher can now "put his money where his mouth is" and throw all his union's resources behind the EGA work-in.

Detailed plans for the work-in must be prepared immediately by EGA Work-In Committee composed of workers and union representatives.

The EGA Campaign Committee must organise outside support from the community and other sections of workers.

No more lobbies and pickets to divert workers from the real fight. ALL SUPPORT FOR THE EGA WORK-IN.

CON I to

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- 9 220 tradition and they reduce revoutionary work within the masses into a sick repetition of truths they

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