Indefinite Strike to Win (14–15 March)

One day actions—protests or even strikes— ywill mol win this dispute. The Tories can sit hack and watch the disruption knowing that tomor-

row we will be back, working twice as hard to -

catch up on work missed today.

Of course the one day strike by nurses in Manchester did achieve something. The government withdrew their special duty payments plan—but only tc refer it to the Pay Review Body where it will reemerge ina slightly different package. That achievement musi now be followed up by decisive action to win our full demands.

Because in most cases protest sirikes can’t bring about any change in the government’s plans many workers begin to ask ‘Why bother?’. After 3 February we all felt more confident, but six weeks later what has happened? The government has shown no sign that it is about to budge on cash for the NHS. They even had the confidence to spit in our faces by slapping another 20p on prescription charges. That insult, plus the budget plans are a challenge to health workers. The Tories think they can ignore our action,

Our response must be effective, hitting at ihe government. An indefinite strike during which all routine work is cancelicd means increased pressure on them to do something. I: also means hitting at the profits of drug and supplies companies who would soon nin to

Thorn-EMI and

Thatcher asking her to reconsider,

Such action would be bound to damage patient care, and wage packets, but if we don’t take decisive action now { be any patient care or wage packets left! How much charges go up? How many more services will be sold af sharks? How many more nurses will be forced to leave

Today or tomorrow there should be mass meetings of si. every hospital to discuss the way forward. We should vat OUT! Where that vote is carried strikers should go on ouicr hospitals to follow soit, These mectings need to ele anion strike committees to run the strike and to determin of emergeacy cover, if any, we provide.

These meetings at hospitals, are and national level sho: up our demands:

@ A massive imcrease in funds to reverse the cuts and ms:

Services @ Abolish wailing lists, meet pay claims of all health workers 93 10! @ Introduce a minimum wage equal to ihe: avenge industri al wag

(£185 per week)

@ Reverse privatisation

@ Nationalise the profiteering drugs and supplies companies unce: workers control without compensation.

repNEN CSE

Many workers have taken strike action loday in support of the NHS. Many are not

themselves employed by the health Service, |

this makes their action ILLEGAL!

These men and women have taken action because they know it is essential to defend the NHS. They know from their parents and grandparents what fear there. was of ill-

health before the NHS. was created. They |

avoided calling out the doctor because of the bill they would receive. Workers fear a return to this with Tory

plans for private insurance hospitals for the —

rich and a ‘poor relief’ sickness service for

the rest. This explains why we have such -

solid support when we take strike action. Other workers know what’s ai stake.

But with this basic show of solidarity they are breaking the law! Workers at ThornEMI in the north-west know this all too well. They struck in support of health workers on 19 February and as a result their

‘convenor and three stewards. have been

threatened with fines of £45,000. The bosses are sueing for damages-——claiming lost production due to the one-day stoppage.

_ l£Thorn-EM1I bosses win it will give the | - green light to manly more to use the law.

Already, British Rail is threatening Kings Cross ASLEP workers with court action. Unions could have ther accounts frozen,

"their money (i.e. our money) stolen by the “courts; ade union leaders including stew-

ards could be imprisoned. And if successful. this case will send our union leaders into a panic and they will try and prevent any

‘solidarity action being taken.

in fact many health workers are also breaking the anti-union ‘empioyment’

_ laws. Our democratic mass meetings where we voted for strikes do not satisfy the

unelected judges. They say we should have secret ballots or face fines, These laws have been deliberately cre-

. they have shown us by launching 2 g

every worker through the courts! couldn’) and wouldn't. When 4

ated by the Tories to make effective working class action illegal. They form ame obstacle to the working class-——cve we try and do collectively is met with junctions, fines and, if we refuse wo workers will by imprisoned. The TUC gone along with these laws, despits car promises to go to jail rather than comp

The Thorn-EMI workers must gi support of the labour movement. If the fined, or if union funds are séized we all be prepared to show them the

strike—-not for one day or two. hours ‘protest’, but a general strike wati! » Then we'll see if the bosses want

strike was threatened around the in nent of the Pentonville dockers in 1972 Ue: court action was quietly dropped. We meet this attack in the same way!

sa eheenenrinemaneeesienemenepnmenmennennanemainaenemamananetannieaeagsamaetiensaseneeee ee ee : Red Puise Is a bulletin produced by the healthworkers of the Workers Power Group, a revolutionary communist organisation

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WN THE fight for a national ctrik leaders. We need to takec airlke committees.

The NUPE and COHSE leaders have made itcleer that they do nol want another national day of strike action, COBSR leaders, under pressure from their members, called a “day of protest” on 14 March. NUPE and the TUC leafiers have refused to support even Uris limited call. That refusal by NUPE has been followed yan instruction toregional full-timers not to meke strike action oficial on 14 March,

Their determmation to stop strike action Ties in the face of ak and file willingness io strike on 14 March. They have over sabotaged solidarity action. Rank and iile health workers from

COHSE spoke to NUM branches in South Yorkshire and wen support for strike action. Then NUPS full-time officials tumed up to tell the miners not to strike. On the 5 March demonstration the TOC bureaucrats were even prepared to kick and hit nurses tO} make sure their voices weren’t heard and the call for strike action wasn't made from the platform in Hyde Park.

What makes the leaders act like this? Their actions ave rooted ' in the policy of ‘new realism’, This policy says thet at the ' moment “workers won't fight’ and ‘even if they do they can’t win’ and we will ‘risk being fined and losing members so there

Sno point in striking’. Instead they say we must wait for Labour

to be elected in 1992! In the meantime we must abandca pickets, strikes and solidarity action in favour of passive protest and developing good relations with oar bosses. NUDE leader Tom ‘Sawyer summed up the ‘new realism’:

“All the solutions and the levers I have pulled since I have become an. official in. the union don't work any more. You pull and nothing happens. You can’t pull a lever and get a strike eny more.” -

"AM MRA Raa Ee

he SNORE SRR SURAT RL 8

LEVERS:

But now Bickerstatfe and Sawyer are having to puil ali soris _ oflevers to stop strike action on 14 March. Because they and the TUC are determined to derail the ight inthe NHS and build an

LL RIOR SE ARIE HEI MIT MD REMI RTE ATE TRESS IS ECE NON TSR NER ESM. I

| the RCN, in protest action—vigils, petition signiag and giving , Gutred roses, Strikes, picket lines and solidacity, the real way to victory, don’t feature in their strategy, beceuse consultants, wet Toriesand the RCN don’tlike them,

i We know Thatcher isn't open to persuasion of reasoned argument. [tis only strike acuion by health workers and others theican ; force her hand.

+ How can leaders like Willis, Bickersta fe and McKenzie slay i i control of the unions when: they y openly sabotage and betay i their members?

, Inthe firstplace the ideas of new realism have filtered through fo many workers. The trade union leaders have led so many

Sommers

ni4 YVerch we neve me ontroto ithe dispute cui oftheir hands b

al class campaign which involves everyone from wet Torics, .

consultants, vicars and agony aurts through tc the scab-outfit, ~ strike

- spo be ropla

aes ee

teges Trom the trade ur

msaso Fipu ulding local and natic: or

disputes to de sfcat—nitl iners, printers etc-——that it has convince: many experienced union members that perhaps new realis> right. Dut the North Manchester nurses and Ford workers p: this is wrong. We can ight and win with strike action. But ©: manent ihe masses of the working class move into action tb - leatiers pul Lie bureancratic machinery hato gear to stop us. This is no aceldent. The trade union bureaucrats bosses” egon's in the iecdo mnie taovernent. Their sabots noi just ontol is or spite. They have a material inte. in smoothing over disputes, reaching compromises and ge vs back to worl a5 rcuichly as possible. They are well paid, : ie cars and high living standards. There is no pressure. ons to fieht for better; pay and conditions.

Fe oat y

i 3QUGHSHOD

They wil always cde coughshod over the members wishes 1 ovier to keep the peace. In May '82 when NUPE confer: vated overwhelmingly for all out sirike action in the Real: service rather than one days the executive met the same Gay av” voted ‘9 imiore Unat decision. That dispute dragged on asa sea" of one day strikes and ended in defeat.

sat no bersaucrat will Reve suffered the six years « say, ent, job Ineses and privatisation which €:. as micaet for health workers today. -

Rank and filc healéh workers have to fight now to break ons a0) OF thoco sell-out merchants,

Lue present strutgle that means building active, democre

anes committeesin« every hospital andevery town, tocontre! tac ection. Thess strike committees must be inked up to fora

mationsl ¢ tee, Already strike committees are bein forr odandanational conference of strike and stewards comm ices s has « USS organised % For or Sateday March 26th in Shetic Id.

: to bn id strike committees and gain control of the aenel isnore the necd to transform the unions in‘ viemocratic figiting bodies. Te think that the control cf 1leaders will go sway if we ignore them will lead us to defect. rank: and file movemnent should fight to change the unions | top to bctiom. That means from the strike committees rani: cr file onion mnemabe 7s should take up the fight to democratise ihe uni a from f-oir iccal branches to the national conference. should demand that those union leaders who won't a " aced. Alt union officials should be elected, ; countable aud instantly recallable. They should receive a wor». ers’ wage. All breuches should be run democratically, taking 2. decisions at mass meetings by show of hands, producing bream

. bulletins and building joint shop stewards committees

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