A QUESTION OF-SOLIDARITY Independent Trade Unlons

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New namnhlet from the Socialist Forum for Southern Africa Solidarity. 90p plus 20p postage. available via Socialist Organiser, 28 Middle Lane, London N8 8PL.

In speeches supporting the resolution, delegates argued that the powerlessness of the Women's Conference lay in its failure "to formally extend and develop its links with women in trade unions.

Opposed The resolution was vigorously opposed by delegates who expressed the fear that WAC was handing power to the right wing machine that already effectively controls the Annual Conference. The men that manipulated this right-wing machine, they argued, through the operation of the block-vote, were only too anxious to take control of the women's conference and to stifle its increasing militancy in demanding rights for women.

After a long debate the resolution was carried overwhelmingly. This paved the way for the acceptance of a motion calling on 90p Bob Fine Lawrence Welch

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Socialist Organiser no.112 December 9 1982 Page 7 The Delegate Meeting also discussed reports on the mushrooming of local Briefing groups. The West Midlands, Merseyside, Nottingham, Brighton and Strathclyde have followed the example of THE main discussion at a well-attended Socialist Organiser delegate meeting in Sheffield last Saturday, ith, was on the witch-hunt in the Labour Party.

John O'Mahony reported that the shift in the National Executive Committee's tactics caused by Militant's threat of legal action mean that the register is longer so central - but the witch-hunt could broader than Every 'member expected. tant, and perhaps also of other left groups in the Labour Party, is at risk.

Socialist Organiser has two tasks: to mobilise the broadest possible leftwing defiance of the witchhunt, but also to maintain tactical realism. If the bulk of the Left concedes ground - and that's possible - SO has to stand gestures which, for sake of some moral satisfaction, would • help the right wing to exclude us.

John O'Mahony also reminded delegates that SO originated in an effort to create a distinctive left-wing voice within the Labour campaign at the last general election. With the current moves by Labour's right-wing leaders to ditch left-wing , conference policies, a similar effort on a broader scale should be necessary and possible for the next general election.

John Bloxam stressed that a fight to block the register is still possible. The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy's decision in its current ballot and its January AGM can be crucial.

SO supporters should help build the Labour Against the Witch-hunt' campaign, getting affiliations from Constituency trying to get CLPs to disaffiliate from LAW.

Local reports revealed different attitudes Militant supporters - in some areas cooperative, in others extremely sectarian.

Another important political item was police accountability. A resolution calling for SO to campaign for accountability was subLondon. The resolution also warned against illusions that accountability could be the means for peacefully transforming the police force from an arm of the capitalist state.

The finance report from Martin Thomas painted a grim picture of mounting debts. The delegate meeting decided to call on supporters to pledge the for the paper was put out for the paper was put out to local groups for dis- to local groups for discussion. The proposal is cussion. The proposal is based on experience in based on experience in Spain, where most left papers have three prices -unwaged, regular, and supporters' Other items discussed included: •Proposals for SO to put more energy into building unemployed groups; • Amendments to the constitution, updating it in line with the development of SO. In future at delegate meetings groups will have a vote for every 5 members or part of 5, rather than just one vote per group; •The libel actions brought by Vanessa Redgrave of the WRP against SO writers; •Building the new Labour Movement Campaign on Palestine set up after the Labour Committee on Palestine was hi-jacked by members and collaborators ofthe WRP; and •Sales of the Leyland Action Committee pamphlet on the recent victimisation of Cowley shop steward Alan Thornett.

What happener New Leyland 4crion Committee pamphlet, 10p plus postage from LAC, 194 Dawlish Road, Birmingham 29 Martin Thomas repor s on the sialist ( irganiser elegate Ter NOT content with insulting the health workers with a disgusting pay offer, Norman Fowler has launched a nasty attack on NHS users.

His new regulations 'NHS Treatment of Overseas Visitors' order hospitals to question the residency-status of patients. Officially this is to catch and charge the tiny number of tourists who supposedly use 'our' health service for free. In reality the regulations are a pincermovement of creeping privatisation and legalised The fight against them is going to be hard.

Fowler's final document is called HC(82)15. The real purpose of the legislation becomes clear if you wade through the 29 paragraphs of regulations, the 3 Annexes, the 2 Appendices, and the four full-page flow-diagrams.

Accident and emergency treatment is exempt from charges. VD caught outside the UK used to be chargeable, but as foreign clap is indistinguishable from British clap both are now exempt. Communicable diseases are exempt too -obviously if we British can catch a foreign disease it's worth treating for free.

If you go into hospital you'll be asked if you've lived in the UK for at least nine out of the last 12 months. Even if you haven't you'll still be eligible for free NHS treatment if your Unfortunately, no court has been able to define what 'ordinary residence' is The exemptions tell their own tale. If you're here principally for work, the State will make sure you're fit. Healthy bodies mean healthy profits.

Incidentally, overseas students here on sandwich courses with not less than 12 weeks industrial employment are exempt - other students aren't. Your au pair will have to pay ... unless she or he has also been recruited as a spy - UK Crown Servants are exempt.

On the totally bizarre front, imagine an overseas visitor who has her baby here and is then discharged while the baby stays in hospital. The baby is still chargeable as an overseas visitor!

Complex Because of the complex exemption clauses and the already established reciprocal health agreements the catchment population is minute. So why did anyone go to the ludicrous lengths and expense of preparing these regulations?

It would be interesting to know if hospitals would refuse to help somcone who wouldn't answer the questions or who couldn't pay a health service funded by private insurance. Remember that Think Tanks only report on what the Prime Minister wants to know.

And, for example, some black families may prefer to take out private health insurance now rather than go through the indignity of having their residency-status questioned.

Very little is being done either locally or nationally to fight the regulations. NALGO is the union representing the clerical staff who will have to ask the questions.

At Oldham and North Manchester Hospitals these eligibility checks have not been implemented, but this seems to be more a hangover from the pay dispute than an organised campaign. Here in the North West Region NALGO have opposed the regulations, but on the national level legal advice' has said that no refusal to implement can be made, and the level of attack is stúck at 'give us more money for the extra work' Comrades in NALGO in Manchester are pressing for a positive line at their forthcoming Annual General Meeting. NUPE and my own union ASTMS have opposed the charges, and though we aren't in the front line we can lend support to NALGO's battle.

Also, the Race and Health Group and hospital workers have mounted

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reat (REPORT) -ORNSEY

Firm on our principles but ANDREW WIARD (REPORT)

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