Campbell for COHSE

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As CoHSE conference meets on December 14, election addresses have gonc out for a new general secretary. Jo Coxhead (Oxford CoHSE) reports.

ANYONE who has followed closely the health service pay dispute, will know how crucial the role of the General Secretary of CoHSE has been in holding back the fight that would have wonand could stil win - the campaign. The job is now up for election - the winner to succeed Albert Spanswick when he retires in ten months' time.

The nine candidates' statements make enlightening reading.

It was with a groan that I read the statement from David Williams, the current Assistant General Secretary, He has been a full-time official (unelected) for 27 of' his 34 years in the union. He says he hopes to occupy the 'high office' of COHSE General Secretary 'for the next 8 or 9 years' until he retires (without any reThere are five candidates who present a 'radical' image but only two - Haddu Mohamed and the Broad Left 'Group 81" candidate, Andrea Campbell - who are not full time union officials.

Let's examine what's behind the images.

Rose Lambie 'As the only female national officer, I have helped to shape the Union's equal opportunities One wonders why the excellent ideas for local childminding facilities arranged cal/Regional Women's AdJOHN HARRIS Andrea Campbeli All the national officers are at great pains to detail all the negotiating bodies they sit on. This negotiating effort reached its peak in the present pay offer wrung out of the government after intensive day and night talks, which have produced an incredible 0% increase on this year's pay offer, and a deal that is guaranteed to keep us well below inflation for not one but tw years, with cuts in patient services and jobs included.

Two of the candidates, Terry Mallinson and David Williams bear direct responsiblity for this fiasco, as COHSE representatives on the TUC NHS committee who consistently voted against even consulting the membership about indefinite strike action.

The most publicised left candidate, Malcolm MacMillan proposes an 'Action Plan' She spells out what we've all experienced: "This Tory gavernment is viciously anti-working class. They do not negotiate. They attack? Precisely! And this observation is matched with policy for action.

Andrea Campbell is the only candidate to draw on her practical experience in fighting the cuts which everyone says are dismantling the NHS.

Her record as steward of the emergency bed service branch in organising continued referrals to the occupied Elizabeth Garret Anderson hospital under the threat of discipline, on the occupation committees at St. Benedict's, Longworth and St. Mary's hospitals stands head and shoulders above the other candidates.

Failure The failure of the present CoHSE leadership to represent the needs and wishes of the membership and to give recommendations for the kind of action that will win the 12% she gives as one of the two main reasons for standing for General Secretary: The other reason is "To try to broaden out the union to take more account of the needs of the members most oppressed - women and black people.' She looks to the large non-white membership of CoSE, and pledges to fight for their rights, needs and jobs, and for those of the 75% women membership.

What about re-elections in the union? Well, three of the candidates say they are in favour of five-yearly reelection for General Secretary. Andrea Campbell is the only one of them to call for election of all full-timers, including regional officials.

A clever careerist? Judge for yourself. 'My view is that full-time officials should earn no more than the average pay of the membership, and if elected I will accept no more' On CoHSE's role in the TUC and the Labour Party, Andrea Campbell is again the only candidate with much to say. Only she mentions the fight in the Labour Party to ensure that policies proclaimed by many of the candidates, like 'reversal of cuts' and 'social control o the economy' , are stuck to.

"The interests of CoHSE members will be served only by a Labour Party which will eradicate private medicine, increase public spending and promise policies which will lead to full employment; not by a party which spends its time: trying to expel members"