Roastrlal Ages Conference Backs Ega Occupation

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CON Sars mast held day 11th December to build support for the occupation of the Elizabeth • Garrett Anderson hospital showed clearly that London health workers are determined to take decisive action to defend the NHS, which the Labour government's massive cuts are threatening to destroy.

This conference was organised at short notice by the EGA Joint Stewards Committee and members of the Central London Medical branch of ASTMS because of the need to build a network of London health service workers to back up the EGA occupation and begin to initiate coordinated action against other hospital closures and cut backs. worker gaone to of call to ,110 last Saturdays before Christmas La discussion of the EGA occupation, the struggles_led by stewards in other parts of London, and proposais for future supportins action on a London wide basis.

The conference began with EGA stewards filling in the background to the occupation and NUPE, CIAT TOTT ППР TOTIAT TRATA' ACTIC and COHSE rarinnal officials explaining their role in it.

One of the latter, Frank Dowling t ASTMS, spoke also of his role as councillor in Newham in refusing to vote for the cuts in defiance of the Labour whips there.

The most important issue to arise in this session, however, was the question what occupation itself means and what it should achieve.

NUPE full-timer Mike Taylor, suggested that its primary aims had been to get publicity and to prevent a surprise closure but several speakers from the floor, COHSE ERY! * Yout ni INHS cuts wil make you sick z including members of the Workers Socialist League, argued that the occupation must be the beginning of workers control of the hospital, with the workers actually taking over the running of it and developing a plan for expanding services to meet women's health needs in the area.

ALL-LONDON In the second session, on allLondon health cuts, speakers from the platiorm attacked the social contract which the government has used to cheat workers out of jobs, wages and services, and the RAWP report which proposes axing 62 hospitals in London over the next year.

They cited facts and figures showing the extent of the cuts and the impact of "nil growth" , which has already meant 20% longer waiting lists.

Colin Kenny, (ASTMS), from St. Mary's hospital, Paddington, explained how in his area stewards had exposed the role of Joint Consultative Committees in doing management's dirty work and set up instead Joint Shop Stewards Committees which, for example; mobilised 3,000 health service CONSE workers on November 17th. in a local demonstration and march preceding the main demonstration.

Chris Potter (NALGO) of West Middlesex hospital also spoke of the need for strong Joint Shop Stewards Committees to coordinate action at both hospital and area levels.

She questioned the validity of Community Health Councils which had in most areas refused to put up any fight against the cuts.

Following this, delegates from the floor began to speak of their own struggles:

Hackney hospital workers who decided this week to ban moving patients out of two wards scheduled for closure in St. Marks hospital; Labour Party members fighting : to force their MPs to oppose government policy on the cuts.

Camden's • Jock Stallard. was cited as an example of MPs who claim to be personally opposed to the cuts but who continue to vote for them in Parliament.

REFUSED

EGA steward Arthur Churchley, prompted some heated discussion over the Camden and Islington Area Joint Shop Stewards' Committee whose convenor recently went so far as to refuse to accept a delegation of EGA stewards speaking on the occupation.

Churchley proposed that the committee should be reconstituted of those stewards who actually want to lead a fight in the area.

Stewards from University College Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital spoke of the need for militant stewards to give consistant support to the struggles of others.

At the end of the conference a resolution was passed supporting the EGA occupation and all other occupations to stop hospital closures. The resolution further calls for sympathy strikes and allLondon strike action in the New Year as a beginning in rejecting the RAWP report and the cuts already underway.

Delegates supported a call for a labour movement conference in the spring and a number of delegates spoke in support of the CLASH conference to be held on 23rd February 1977. This conference will be the basis for a London Joint Shop Stewards Committee in. the health service which can co-ordinate a wide response to back up any local initiatives.

We support the CLASH conference and see it as the way forward in opposing cuts on more than a hospital by hospital basis.

The 24-hour picket continues at the EGA itself and all support is welcomed. Come by the hospital Photo: Hackney Gazette Hackney hospital workers and join the picket over the Christmas period: Donations and requests for speakers to:

EGA Joint Shop Stewards, Euston Road, London NW1. (Tel. 387 2501).

Provisional details of the CLASH Conference are that it will take place on Wednesday 23rd February at 2 pm at Bonham-Carter House, 52, Gower St. London. For furtherinformation . contact Terry. Prosperer, Sec. S. Camden JSSC, University College Hospital, Gower St. London.

THE FOLLOWING motion was passed by the Colchester branch of ASTMS.

"This branch of ASTMS:

NOTES 1) The recent decision by workers at the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital to occupy the hospital in order to prevent its closure. 2) The continuous 24-hour picket which has been placed on the hospital, and the call by workers there for active support for the occupation. 3) That this occupation is officially supported by the following unions: ASTMS; NALGO; COHSE; NUPE. RESOLVES To actively support the occupation, and as a token to donate £15 to the occupation fund.

DEMANDS 1) That the Camden and Islington Area Health Authority open all its books to a committee of trade unionists elected by the workers engaged in the occupation. 2) That MP's Lena Jager and Jock Stallard, who have been involved in the EGA struggle: a) fight against the of the hospital; b) vote against all diture cuts. 3) That the NEC of ASTMS name a day and date for a one day national strike in support of the EGA workers, and in protest at all public expenditure cuts. 4) Copies of this motion to be sent to: a) EGA workers; b) ASTMS Divisional Council No.5 c) MP's Lena Jager and Jock Stallard. d) Camden and Islington AH/