Glasgow's Week

Scan page 20

STRIKE Monday. 900 workers at Hartwood Hospital in Shotts in Glasgow go on strike, hospital on emergency cover Reception staff at Gartavel General Hospital go on strike for entire week, due to anger at the government's adverts in papers about alleged pay of ancillaries.

Norman Tebbit meets STUC at their head office in Glasgow. Hundreds of NHS strikers picket meeting. Andy Barr, STUC vice-presi dent, pledges STUC's support for healthworkers from steps of building before meeting Tebbit, whose laws will make illegal solidarity action with NHS strikers. NHS strike not discussed at STUC-Tebbit meeting.

Open-top double-decker bus sets off on tour of Scotland, containing an assorted medley of health union officials, MPs, health workers, going round the various areas to "boost morale". At least it clears some bureaucrats and officials out of Glasgow.

Day one of holiday of Bob Thomson (NUPE Glasgow full-timer, hitherto the leading oorganiser of the strike) in the Canary Islands.

Tuesday. Medical records staff at Victoria Infirmary begin strike to last rest of week. More than 100 laboratory, pharmacy and medical technicians also walk out.

Other ancillaries ban all overtime. Hospital on emergency cover only.

Reduction

Greater Glasgow Health Board produces document proposing massive reduction of health service facilities in Glasgow including possible closure of Bath St physiotherapy unit, Yorkhill Hospital for sick children, creche facilities in Glasgow West and East districts, radiology service in Glasgow Royal, anti-dermatology unit at Southern General, laboratory services at Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women; David Elder Infirmary, Darnley Geriatric Hospital. Day two of Bob Thomson's holiday.

Wednesday. 24 hour strike by ambulancemen in Glasgow and West of Scotland. Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Dumbartonshire and Lanarkshire llose: all ambulance services. Ambulancemen join picket lines at hospitals.

Only exception to this.

ambulancemen who belong to "Association of Profes sional Ambulance Personnel"

At Southern General, over 250 porters, catering, linen, sewing room, transport workers strike. 400 plus march from hospital through Govan. March supported by shipyard workers from UCS, Govan sewage works, local Labour Party members and councillors (including Pat Keegan), and delegation from NALGO Strathclyde region.

Porters at Royal Infirmary withdraw emergency cover.

Porters at Gartnavel General go on strike, but leave emergency cover.

Porters at Yorkhill Hospital for Sick Children are suspended for refusing to move rubbish. Other porters walk out in support, leaving only head porter and deputy on duty Day three of son's holiday.

"Thursday. 500 shipyard workers in Greenock strike for 2 hours and join demonstration in support of NHS strike.

3,500 shipyard workers from Govan vote a 5Up per week levy for NHS strike and pledge strike action if there is an official call for it.

Porters and technicians at Inverclyde Royal Hospital walk out on indefinite strike after management misuses workers' provision of emergency cover. Day four ot Bob Thomson's holiday.

Friday.. Over 3,000 attend rally in George Square in support of NHS strike. Marches organised from different areas of city to converge on George Square. 1,000 march in from West End alone (Gartnavel General, Gartnavel Royal, Canniesburn, and Western Infirmary contingents).

Marches/rally supported by miners, steelworkers, shipbuilding workers, engineers, local council workers, etc., Education Institute of Scotland, POEU, Glasgow District Council and Council sub-committees cancelled to let councillors attend picket lines and rally.

Tory councillors condemn this as "deplorable and undignified". "The leftward drift of the Labour Group is becoming alarming" says Tory Group leader Bill Aitken. Labour activists stunned - what leftward drift?.

Deadline

UCS convenor Sammy Gilmour says: "It's time for us to set a deadline for the government, and if there's no settlement by then, then there's no workers" (i.e. everyone out on strike).

George Boulton (assistant secretary of Scottish NUM) says: "If they put him (Geraghty) in, then we all come out, " and calls for a one-day miners' strike nationally in support of NHS workers. Very political speech: points out how stakes of the dispute have been raised and how a political challenge to union movement as whole is involved in the prosecution of Geraghty.

General theme of speeches was the need for workers outside the health service to take strike action to help NHS workers win.

Day five of Bob Thomson's holiday - only another nine days to go.

A coordinating committee against the NF stall in Brick Lane has been set up in Tower Hamlets.

Sunday August has been selected for a demonstration.

Time: 10am.

Venue: Brick Lane /Bethnal Green Road.

Supported by: Tower Hamlets Labour Party, Tower Hamlets Assoc. For Racial Justice, Tower Hamlets Trades Council, Bengali Wel.

fare Assoc., Bengali youth organisations, East London Workers Against Racism.