Support from NCB

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THERE WERE red faces at the National Coal Board last weekend. The Board's Stoke on Trent publicity officer Stuart Oliver had been discovered delivering copy from a one-off issue of the 'Lancashire Miner' to the printers.

Hurriedly. Oliver issued denials that he had been placing the print order for the sheet - which is a publicity blurb for the area's leader Bernard Donaghy in the NUM election.

Oliver claimed that he only took the copy as a 'favour' while he was on 'official NCB business' to the printers.

But who can deny that the NCB have made it their busipaigns of the other three seem to consist mainly of sniping at Scargill's record and attempts to personalise the issue.

Darlings Let's have a look at these 'three just men' who are suddenly the darlings of Fleet Street.

The first candidate of the right wing was Trevor Bell. The reaction of most miners was "Trevor who...?' role' in preparing NUM submissions to such bodies as the Wilberforce Committee in 1972 and the Pay Board investigation in 1974.

He wants to scrap the NUM's present policy of annual wage reviews and instead adopt the American syster of three-year contracts. He is critical of the NUM's fight this February to keep the threatened pits open, and in one of his rare political statements earlier in the year he declared him self a supporter of Dennis ion of incentives despite conference policy.

'Amiable'

Described by the Times as 'talented but unduly self-effacing' (the words of Lady Astor may be more appropriate - a modest man, with much to be modest about'), Raymond is also an 'amiable' man according to the Sheffield •Morning Telegraph.

He has been nominated ness to try to squeeze out Scargill? criticism of 'Miners in the Eighties, see Socialist Policy by conference policy and port of all miners.

put there by us to fight for Jones. with a determination tr him to the test - wher tails, ana lets ve ! I. !1- ..J lad'a hao when he does, the rank file must go beyond This means the buildir a rank and file move In this way • we car

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Socialist Organiser no.64 December 2 1981 Page 14 4 WEEKS after they locked out the 90 porters, the management at the London Hospital seem to be backing down.

The lock-out started when management refused to let the porters (all members of NUPE) clock back on after a lightening threehour stoppaged until they had all signed a statements that. they would continue to work normally:

The management. are trying to force through recommendations from DHSS Management Services Review Team, which would cut 24 porters' jobs have attempted to intimidate NUPE members attending mass meetings in the Hospital to give support to the strikers and have threatened ancilliaries with dismissal. When over 150 turned up the threat was forgotten.

After 4 weeks, management are now ba eking down, but the picketi stewards will not rett rn to work until the deal is signed and sealed.

Solidarity from other workers, especially the London Ambulance Service, has been crucial. STEPHEN CORBISHL AT ST. MARY'S, London W9, management are already two and a half weeks behind in their closure plans. This in itself is an indication of the strength and determination of the NHS staff to defend jobs and services.

After the commando raid tactics used to close down Ward 2 and the resultant outcry from the Community Health Council and the local press, management have been forced to issue a consultation document in full warning • to both staff and patients.

Ward

The next ward closure is due to take place on Thursday December 3.

Hospital staff intend to prevent it. This time they have had plenty of notice, and management feel under pressure to do things the right way.

They will be a pproaching staff to cooper ate. It is essential that thi ; is met by the mass resistance of the ancillary workers and nursing staff.

The timing of the clos ure is obviously aimed to pre-empt the demonstration and march planned for the next day.

Twenty This day of action, which has been getting encouraging support from trade unions and student unions, is planned to rally support against the closure and for the reinstatement of Mick Woods, a TGWU steward sacked for refusing to cooperate with the closure of Ward 2 by administration and police. Some twenty stewards have been sacked this year alone throughout the NHS, as the management have stepped up their attacks.

T&G stewards in the hospital intend to call on their members to come out on Friday to join the demonstration.

In Horton in Surrey, CoHSE members have indicated their willingness to strike if CoHSE makes it official. COHSE general secretary Albert Spanswick wrote back telling them that the dispute would be political and hence illegal, and that he would not support it.

Spanswick has since left for the Socialist Paradise, and Horton Hospital might still come out.

The weak link in this dispute has continuously been the full-time leadership of the trade union move ment, tending to isolate, demoralise, and belittle the dispute.

It is essential therefore that the day of action on the 4th is a success.

Local

There will be a mass picket from 7am onwards on Tuesday 3rd to show the opposition of the local community to the destruction of their hospital. by Andrea Campbell Andrea Albert Spanswick And whatever happen on Thursday, the disput still needs support, bot financial and practical. Ther are mass pickets every Mor day from 7am to 10am Messages/money to Mic Woods, c/o TGWU offic St Mary's, Harrow Rd, W9. St Mary's Hospital, Londol W9. Day of Action against Closure. March from the Elizabeth Garrett Andersor Hospital, Euston Rd (near Euston station) to rally at St Mary's. Assemble 10.30.

by icky Houston ston