Crucial week for NHS pay claims

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Hospital workers need unity against the Tories BRITAIN OUT OF IRELAND!

DETERMINATION FOR THE IRISH Demonstration, May 8 first anniversary of the death of Bobby Sands MP). Called by Labour Committee on Ireland, Indian Workers' Association, Troops Out ncustria EVENTS this week will be crucial to the battle for action over health service pay. The ancillary and clerical staff sides have rejected the offer of 4% DIC rejected the offer of 4% and are waiting for either an increased offer or management refusal to negotiate any further. land must be worried that they will be put under increasing pressure from militant workforces anxious to protect their jobs and living standards. Officials will no longer be able to instruct these workers that they could face large fines.

Already the effect of this, plus the ripple on effect of the Plessey occupation has been felt in Newbridge, near Bathgate. Cox Denholm, an engineering factory employing under 100 workers was occupied for 3 days last week.

This was because an EETPU shop steward was suspended without pay for refusing to carry out work blacked by industrial action, following on from the annual pay review. The sit-in is suspended, pending further negotiations.

MARXISM London Workers Sociali:

League classes on basic Marxism. Next one: Sta and Revolution. Friday April 2nd, 7.30pm. For venue write to PO Box 135, London, N1.

'THE POLITICS of the Socialist Workers Party' pamphlet produced by Glasgow Socialist Organiser.

Sections on: history of the SWP, SWP and trade union work, SWP intervention in industrial disputes, SWP and women, SWP and internationalism. Prices 43p for one copy, £1.81 for five. Cheque But the nursing side have probably received the final offer which the Tories are prepared to make. UIE URGANICER Early this week the staff side negotiators are meeting the Secretary of State to plead for more money. It is highly unlikely that an increased offer will be forthcoming. if there is no better offer, then the present one of just over 6% for some grades and a straight 4% for other grades will go to ballot.

The mood of nurses is angry and even though the leadership have made no attempt to build for strike action, COHSE and NUPE nurses will probably reject the divisive 6%.

The problem is that the nurses staff side is heavily weighted in favour of nonTUC affiliated organisations such as the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). These bodies see themselves as representing the "professional" side of nursing.

Recruit They recruit nurses in their first months of training by false promises of protection and better benefits. The RCN has a firm policy of no strike action and continually fosters the image of nurses as angels who deserve more for their PEOPLE NW5 4NH.

payable to lan McLeish.

From: McLeish, 2 Quarry Ave, Halfway, Cambuslang, Glasgow.

'THE SOVIETS': conference organised by Iranian Students' Association - Left Platform. Speakers include Branka Magas, Hillel Ticktin, Ahmad Ghotbi, Duncan Hallas, Pete Goodwin, Michael Cox. Saturday April 3, noon to 9pm at ULU, Malet St, London WC1. Fee £2, advance booking to ISALP, 72 Gordon Rd, London W5.

NO TO NUCLEAR weapons - youth demonstration in Nottingham, Saturday April 3, 12.30 Old Market Square.

dedication than other

working in the NHS.

Last year the RCN voted to accept the 6% pay offer and tipped the balance on the staff side so that all nurses got 6% even though COHSE and NUPE had rejected the offer. This disgraceful action makes the hypocrisy.

And yet the leadership of the TUC-affiliated unions continue to work side by side wịth RCN negotiators and even justify their acceptance of derisory pay offers with the excuse that "they (the RCN) have different pressures on them"

Pressures

The pressures are the same for all NHS workers. Low pay rises year after year; action in defence of pay, conditions and services continually sold out by the leadership; rising prices; unpaid bills. The time for industrial action by ALL health service workers has never been better.

But there is no time to lose in convincing nurses in the RCN and other non-affiliated bodies to reject the offer of 6% and to stand with the rest of the workers in fighting the Tories.

Mass meetings should be called in all hospitals in work time with nurses, ancillary workers and all other grades standing together and putting forward the reasons for nurses to vote no when the ballots arrive - it should be stressed that they will be rejecting an offer which in real terms represents a settlement at half the rate of inflation.

Escalate

Workers in Manchester have begun the fight for pay by taking strike action as a united body. We should escalate that action to every hospital in the country.

The call will not come from the leadership. It has to start in the branches. The only way to beat the Tories is through strike action, which must start now.

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MOLVOUA HOSPITAL O SHEFFIELD