Set backs for sit-in

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cil and hand it over to the get Southwark councillors Vasional Frons for a meet- jailed for refusing to coing. NF leader Martin operate with an earlier Webster is going to court High Court order to hand again this week to try to over the hall. Webste. 4 Court hands him the council hall THE occupation of Wood Green and Southgate hospital is near collapse.

Last week saw two demoralising setbacks for the staff and supporters of the occupation. The DHA moved in during Monday afternoon and took out the operating equipment from the hospital. Later that same day, a meeting of GPs and consultants took place to discuss the situation and to give up with 'dignity'.

While this has had a deJOHN HARRIS moralising effect on the staff it doesn't mean the occupation is at an end. Staff and supporters of the Hospital are looking to put pressure on local GPs to continue the occupation and to bring patients to the hospital.

If this is to be successful it will provide the right basis for the occupation to continue. • It will be another chance to halt the DHA's steamroller of closing down vast chunks of local health care in the borough. the staff of 23 that there would have to be between 7 and 11 redundancies, and asked the staff if they'd like to work out who should go. They merely refused.

So Mr Palmer issued redundancy notices anyway.

Interestingly enough, of the three workers sacked, two were women, and of of the six put onto halftime working, four were women - this out of total of 8 female staff on the paper.

Drop Management blame an expected 50% drop in advertising • revenue for the crisis: the unions have been given some figures, and have asked for further the unions - NUJ, SOGAT THE National Union of Journalists has had a code of ethical and professional conduct which it has expected its members to observe, for 46 years. The purpose of the code is to promote an attitude of responsibility in the profession, with the upholding of certain ethical standards, and with protecting the profession.

On October 16 the National Executive of the NUJ voted to expel Ronald Spark, a member on the Sun newspaper, for a leader which appeared in the 7 May issue.

Traitors

The article began "There are traitors in our midst" went on to accuse Peter Snow, a Newsnight presenter of treason because he had be different in future. The The reason why this is a part of the union's rules is simple. Without the right to criticise there would be no profession of journalism. Beyond this, many other things we cherish would disappear from our society.

Over the last few years, in this country there has been a steady erosion of established civil liberties and an increased interference with journalists seeking to JENNY FISHER Against such a background it is all the more important that we guard against further encroachments on our freedom.

Ronald Spark, both in his original article and in his subsequent submission to the union, showed himself to be utterly contemptuous of the NUJ's ethical and professional objectives. In a letter to the union, dated 2 September, and published by Mr Spark in the UK Press Gazette he wrote:

"For myself, I write the things I believe to be true, and in the interests of the paper's readers and the country. I accept the dictates of my conscience. I will in no circumstances accept the dictates of any trade union."

He finishes his letter.

- "Had I the common touch of say, a Guardian

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t Organiser no. 106 October 28, 1982 Page 3 WITCH-HUNT PARTIES AGAINST THE

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Simon Collings explains the NEC decision