Only Strikes Will Stop Health Cuts

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Bethnal Green Hospital campaign pickets the Area Health Authority London firemen wel comed back four of their number last week who had been marked down for the axe by fire brigade chiefs.

The four were among six tiremen suspended after the courts convicted them of petty theft during the Fire Brigades Union strike. The charges included one of stealing a roll of sticky tape.

But the reinstatement is far from a victory. Two strikers have been effectively sacked-they resigned during the management conducted inquiry.

When the sackings were first threatened soon after the end of the pay strike, only the full weight of London FBU bureaucrats prevented the firemen walking out again in support of the victimised members.

Since then the FBU has allowed Chief Officers to decide the fate of the six. Rank and file pressure jeterred the management sub committee from going ihrough with the four extra sackings, giving the membership a partial victory.

None of the FBU members would have lost their jobs if independent class action in heir defence had not been clocked. Trade unionists in the fire service must place no caith in management committees.

A public meeting called by BACHCCS (Birmingham Action Committee Against Hospital Closures and Cuts in Services) was attended by approximately 100 trade unionists in Birmingham on March 8 to discuss hospital closures proposed by the Area Health Authority.

On the platform were a shop steward from Lucas's, a representative from a Community Health Council, a representative from the Hounslow Occupation Committee and a local NUPE official.

The original plan proposed by the AHA which entailed closure of 14 hospitals has now been modified and some of the hospitals have now been at least temporarily reprieved.

Pressure

This decision is undoubtedly due in part to the pressure of BACHCCS which showed its wide base of support in a lobby of the AHA in February.

The AHA are still insisting on the closure of at least some of the remaining hospitals including at the top of the list a small geriatric hospital called Romsley Hill.

The meeting went on to discuss future plans for the campaign and a number of proposals were offered by attending delegates.

WSL members argued that the way forward for a paign should be to h workers inquiry into health service locally.

Workers inquiry

from the basic premise that the health service be run for the needs of the working class and not on the pitiful finances supplied by the Lib-Lab coalition determined to slash public services.

taken up by a BACHCCS camold a the Such an inquiry must start This suggestion is to be Lobby KEEP Meet IT. warch and a steering group has been established which is to organise a workers' enquiry into the financing of the health service.

In the short term the workers in hospitals threatened with imminent closure are being organised to prevent a repitition of Hounslow.

Workers at Romsley have already decided to occupy should the AHA decide to move against them.

This action must be effectively backed up by a pledge BE! from of strike service workers ficials for supportive ction in the health and the building of from industrial throughout the area.

Strength

The AHA will certainly not change their attitude towards closures by the persuasive tactics employed so far by BACHCCS but only by the strength of the organised working class movement in Birmingham.

A lightning strike by women working in Oxford's Mothercare store has ended in complete victory after only a few hours with the reinstatement of a victimised union member and has given an important boost to unionise many other workers in similar establishments.

The Mothercare retail chain is typical of many such companies in its dependence on women workers, many part-time, and had formerly been able to rely on tried and trusted methods for getting rid of "awkward" individuals.

Phoney "counselling", disciplinary sessions on trumped up charges and persistent harassment has meant that sackings are commonplace and the chances of resistance nil.

In this case, following such management moves against a number of the staff, an approach was made to USDAW, the shopworkers' union, with the result that a group took the decision to join.

Walked out

At the same time advice was sought from supporters of the local Student-Trade Union Liaison Committee, a body prominent in the marathon hotels unionisation struggles.

So, when the anticipated sacking took place last Thursday, the basis had been laid for the planning of an effective response.

A meeting of the workforce was organised for first thing the following morning, where the remainder agreed to join the union.

They elected a shop-steward and voted unanimously for strike action unless management conceded reinstatement within an

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bosses inquiries

... • / 20:0165: Are PHOTO: Mark Rusher. IFL

ANAN GREEN OSPITAL