'we Don't Think of Saving Money, but of Saving People

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Hoe Beckle: •IT'S ONLY a matter of time before somebody dies because we've had to pass that hospital"

These stark words summed up the reasons for the staff at St Mary's, Harrow Road, occupying to save the hospital from closure.

NUPE ambulance convenor Terry Pettifer was explaining to a 100-strong public meeting on 30th July the ambulancedrivers' reasons for supporting the St Mary's occupation.

Strength

One of the great strengths of the occupation is the declaration from the ambulance drivers that they will continue to bring patients to St Mary's if the management try to close the accident and emergency department as planned.

Joe Beckles, TGWU branch secretary at the hospital, explained the background to the staff's decision to occupy. The final announcement of Vaughan's decision about the Area Health Authority's proposals is expected this week - in fact, 'it may have been made by the time we go to press.

Joe Beckles pointed out that it is already rumoured that Vaughan has made up his mind, but is delaying the announcement.

Health

The most enthusiastic applause at the meeting was given to Rita Maxim, the domestics' TGWU shop steward, who appealed for support for Many workers from YOU WERE at the TGWU conference when the vote for occupation was taken. Do you think the T&G vote on support for occupations and strike action will make a difference to your It was a very important vote which will give a drive to strengthen the membership. Our union official has given full backing to our action against the hospital closure.

However, 1 am not a great optimist, but a bit of a pessimist.

We must look at this in a national way and i can see no let-up in the attacks against the health service. This vicious right wing • government is causing disillusion and dissension among workers.

You have beaten the Area Health Authority twice before. You can do it again, don't you think?

It's true that there has been a good response, especially from the TGWU domestics, who will fight to the end.

There will be a good battle here at W9. Whether it will be full-blooded or not, we will have to see.

It is different this time because it is now against the Minister, not just the AHA as in the past. The ball is in his court.

District and local management have been carrying out an assault on the workforce, particularly the domestics.

They have gone for the exploitation of the ancillary workers, especially, who have felt the full brunt of the attack.

What is the situation domestics now?

Over the last 18 months 25 to 30 domestic jobs have gone, and 1o to 13 ancllary full-time jobs.

This week, two domestics were picked on to do extra duties and they refused to recognise the authority of the management. After four attempts to get them to go to the office, they have got a written warning.

• The T&G are going to send management a formal letter detailing extra duties they want our members to do. In the light of any future investigation and any action taken against our members, the T&G will consider itself in dispute, and will have to escalate the fight in the NHS and outside the NHS.

We are seeking support from all sorts of people, and are asking the T&G support any member penalised or sacked by action and finance, such as paying thei wages if necessary.

The domestic supervisors are continually trying to provoke people, for example, standing on • their feet, pushing them and trying to get them into fights so they can get them sacked. They have suddenly found that there are too many domestics in W9.

The manager is particularly hostile. She has only been here about a year, and is determined to smash the whether Manchester has a council which fights the Tories and their cuts or one that carries them out.

What is clear is that the present leadership has no