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mum for the TUC's regional actions. That's the only way the pressure can be built up to get more action. *Build local action committees uniting NHS workers with other trade unionists, Labour Parties, unemployed, etc., to get maximum mobilisation.

Significantly, not a single employer dared to try to use the Prior anti-union law against action on the 22nd. But there have been victimisations. And the employers' caution will not last forever. *The unions and the action committees must defend workers victimised by the law or by employers for which took action to ioi in which took acuon to Jow In a broader Health Workers Solidarity Committee"

"The pace for supporting action in Oxford" reports HARRY SLOAN, "was set by the print unions - where a combined 24-hour strike by NGA and NUJ halted the local paper. Journalists from local NUJ chapels were among the most active supporters of the strong mass picket outside the Radcliffe Infirmary.

No less than ten coaches carrying health workers and supporters travelled to the London demonstration. But in the town itself the support was patchy.

There was a show of militancy from some less expected quarters. Lucy's, a small engineering plant, where the stewards were reportedly among the handful who defied a strike vote; a 100% stoppage by Telecom operators for four hours, strong support from postal workers and a strike local action to reduce irgency only. To exert Tories, however, piecei be capped by decisive e agitating for:

• NHS, with emergency with redoubled appeals e-day general strikes. I mobilise to the maxi42-97 dy nurE nome neips. 1ncie was an 8-hour strike by workers at Didcot power station.

But other sections proved disappointing. Buses Ian as normal, there were only small-scale stoppages by NALGO and NUPE council workers, and only two schools were closed as the NUT sent a mere handful of representatives to the demonstration.

An unresolved dispute with the council over payment for emergency cover meant that a strike by the FBU was called off.

It was overall an impressive show of support - but also a pointer to the need to develop further the fighting strength in key local CARLA JAMISON reports from Basingstoke:

"At the psychiatric hospital, lightning strikes by different sections built up the momentum for September 22. The GMWU developed these tactics when solidarity action.. frustration at the TUC's methods began to take its toll ot unity. 4-11 " 1.

"At an all-day rally and picket at the hospital there were over 500 secondary pickets, including 80 postmen and 200 Lansing Bagnalls workers who marched to the rally despite the instructions from their Joint Shop Stewards Committee chairman Peter Taylor (who has been so busy providing "witnesses' for management to sack boilermakers' convenor Keith Maynard).

The GMWU have followed the 22nd by pulling out. indefinitely the key washroom operatives of the laundry and their driver (the TGWU will also refuse to handle the work). Feeling is running so high that other sections of the GMWU are queuing up to take action.

This has also meant a rapid influx of people into the branch, and the production of regular information hulletinc Management have gone very quiet and have not dared repeat the disastrous attempt at victimisation which backfired on them badly in July.

Our tactics may not have been Queensbury rules, but they are a damn sight more effective than the TUC have offered us so far. Workers who had previously scabbed on the action are now joining - the union and taking full part."

Together

"Miners, civil servants, bakers and seamen joined pickets in Cardiff, reports MARTIN BARCLAY. Many Labour councillors donated a day's allowance.

The Welsh Office has announced 9000 redundancies for the Welsh Health Service, probably through privatisation of cleaning and laundry services, but the DEFEND HEALTH workers in Leicester are picketing the Fox's Glacier Mints factory in support of victimised AUEW shop steward Jim Tolton.

Jim was sacked last week from the factory, part of the Rowntree Mackintosh company, for showing health workers the way to the canteen. Management trumped up charges of gross insubordination' The AUEW (maintenance) workers at the factory struck immediately. But on Friday 24th management announced that thev had MAMITAAITIYA joint shop stewards' committee set up to fight on the claim is determined to fight this issue together, too"

The turnout of Labour Party banners on the central demonstration was disappointing - reflecting the failure of Party leaders to campaign for action. Local Labour Party activity was sometimes better.

In Islington the council suspended activity for the day, sent a letter to all council workers encouraging them to strike, met with the unions to discuss action, sent councillors on the picket lines, and displayed a large banner in support of the health workers across the front of the Town Hall. Several other Labour councils also showed support.

In Coventry, some local Labour Parties,__especially Coventry South West, made an organised show of support on the picket lines and at the rally. In Haringey a health workers' support committee mainly based on the Labour Party has been active.

In Basingstoke, the Labour Party distributed a leaflet calling for strike action at the gates of all the main local factories. Such activity seems, however, to have been the exception.

Socialist Organiser supporters were active everywhere that we have groups, pressing for industrial action in their workplaces, attending the picket lines and rallles, selling Socialist Urganiser, and aiso selling the 'Health Workers for the Full Claim' bulletin. Around 1,000 copies of the bulletin were sold during the day.

*75% of coal mines.

*Liverpool, London, Hull, Tees, Southampton, Bristol, Glasgow, Barry and Swansea docks for the full day, other ports for shorter periods.

*SOGAT 82 and NGA printworkers, shutting dowi Fleet Street: and many Jour nalists.

*Council workers - the Town Hall white collar union, NALGO, reckons that nearly all its members took some form of action.

*Albion Motors, Glasgow, Ford Halewood, Bridgend and Treforest, and the Sierra line at Ford Dagenham, all stopped for the full day. Vauxhall Ellesmere Por and Leyland Vehicles at Leyland and Chorley came out for half the day. BL cars were on holiday, but white collar workers at Jaguar and Canley struck.

*Teachers and school caretakers in many areas. Three quarters of the secondary and half the primary schools in inner London were closed.

*Shipyard workers at Harland and Wolff, Belfast, on the Tyne and Tees, and at Portsmouth dockyard.

*Steelworkers in Sheffield and elsewhere.

*Firemen, bakery, water, gas, and post and telecom workers in many areas.

*The turnout from bus workers was patchy, because the call for strike action from the TGWU had come only a couple of days before. It was strongest, it seems, in Belfast, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Cleveland, and Manchester.

*Glasgow airport was closed, and a two-hour mass meeting at Heathrow stopped a number of flights.

*Ferry services were disrupted by National Union of Seamen stoppages.

*Granada TV and Ulster TV were shut down for three hours by ACTT action. Yorkshire TV workers also struck.

*Lorry drivers on Merseyside.

*Despite threats from their management, many civil service workers struck, mainly in DHSS and Department of Employment offices.

*There were also stoppages in many factories. On Welsh TV, for example, com mentators trying to minimise the action interviewed the president of the Welsh CBI, who said that they had surveyed all the major firms in Wales and 50% had worked normally. In other words, half had been affected.

*United Glass in St.

Helens struck for 32 hours.

* And of course there was a huge turnout everywhere from health workers themselves.

Local demonstrations

were 12,000 strong in Dundee, 10,000 in Sheffield, 8,000 in Glasgow, 7,000 in Leeds, 4,000 in Hull, and 2.000 in Relfast.

been picketing the factory at 5.30am each morning to try to persuade the engineers to reverse their decision.

Tebbit

The health workers feel strongly that Jim has been victimised just for putting into practice TUC policy in support of the NHS struggle; and that Rowntree are doing retail what Tebbit wants to do wholesale.

Messages of support to 11 Bislev St. Leicester.

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20 9:99 Heckling Frank Chapple