Ambulance crews back hospital occupation
Socialist Organiser1981 1981-08-06Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 14 →
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Munagement have put sho the hospital workers: •We do not think of saving money, we think of the health of the people"
Brunt Ms Maxim is on her final warning after resisting the management attacks on the domestics' staffing levels over a number of years. These women have borne the brunt of the health authorities' offensive, and are currently in dispute over the management's attempt to force them to do other people's jobs.
John • Newey, the ¡teward Rita Maxim on fina TGWU local official, expressed his support for the occupation. Unfortunately, when asked by Colin Kenny, an ASTMS member from St Mary's W2, if he would fight for the TGWU to give the women full pay if they are sacked, he would only say that his hands were tied by the union rulebook.
The main advertised speaker at the meeting was Ken Livingstone, who besides being GLC leaders is also the GLC member for that constituency.
He explained that arning Labour iLC was arguing for ele 'ed representatives to run the health service: for the GLC to become the Regional Health Authority for London and borough councils to be district health authorities.
Picket
When Vaughan's final announcement is made, the Occupation Committee will be calling a day of action in the North Paddington area. The form has not been decided, but it might include a demonstration or mass picket. other hospitals and anti-cuts campaigns were at the meeting, and Candy Udwin from the Royal Northern (Islington) campaign asked the St Mary's occupation committee to consider a day of action planned for maximum participation from other hospitals.
As Terry Pettifer had told the meeting, the Tories have 136 hospitals planned for closure in London by 1986, and 17 accident and emergency units in Central London.
Beacon
Socialist Organiser supporters should all be organising in their unions and Labour Parties to get support for St Mary's - especially active support on the picket line maintained outside the hospital from 8am to 8pm each day.
As Anne-Marie Sweeney from the Longworth Hospital Support Commitee said, "What's been lacking in the cuts fight is trade union support — supporting strike action from sections that have got the muscle... st Mary's is a beacon in the fight to save all the threatened hospitals in London".
* Messages/money: John Dolan, c/o Cashier's Office, St Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, London W9.