Lessons from Thornton View hospital: Occupation is the only way!

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New issue of Class Fighter now out - 12 pages for 15p plus postage from 214 Sickert Court, WORKERS from Thornton View Hospital in Bradford have now been in occupation for twelve weeks, against its threatened closure.

Betty Elie is an auxiliary nurse and a COHSE shop steward, and has worked at Thornton View for nearly eight years. Mary Johnston and lan MeCondach spoke to her.

Thornton View is a longterm geriatric hopital with 82 beds. The patients see it as a home. Some of them have been here for about 15 years. We are in a block of six geriatric units in Bradford, some smaller than ours, but this is the largest long stay unit that we have.

Are there enough beds in Bradford for geriatrics at present?

Last year we were 50 beds below the Authority's 'norm' Thornton View is closed, we'll be 82 more beds down and Birchlands is also on the cards enough beds in Bradford for the elderly.

Did you expect Thornton View to be included in this round of hospital closures?

• No we didn't because a lot of work has been put into Thornton View - but we were treated like eleven year old children; we Essex Road, London N1 2SY. PRETENCE Thornton View... under workers' control were given no notification from the Authority, we learnt of the closures on the wireless. some members of staff heard of it and brought the news in - that's how we got to know about it.

What was your reaction when you heard the news?

Absolutely horrified, because we were more concerned with the patients that we had nursed for years — especially as you get so attached. I know it's the wrong thing to do, but they just didn't know where they were going to put them, because they didn't have any room and I don't think they still do.

how and why did the IDE YCND diary Gay YS Youth training scandal Socialist Squaddies? occupation begin?

Last October we formed a cuts committee, when we heard of the closure - there were five of us on it - the stewards from Thornton View. We worked for Shipley Hospital as well as Thornton View and we were busy with public meetings. The health authority took no notice at all of what was going on, so the only way to make them and the public take notice was to occupy and this we did on August 5.

Did the occupation start as a result of your union leadership or from pressure from the rank and file members?

Not exactly, it came because of the pressures of the unions in the cuts committee - that's how the occupation came to be.

Did any of you have experience of this type of action?

No, what we did have was someone who had been in an occupation and they came and gave us advice to show us the mistakes they had made, so that we wouldn't make them. They quite a lot of block bookings for picketing from places like York and Halifax union branches for which we are very grateful.

So what has the support for the occupation been like? From the workforce at Thornton View, the relatives of the patients, the public in Bradford and the labour movement?

I'll deal with staff first. At first they weren't all with us, but now we have a very solid backing from the staff night and day. The relatives - we had to work on them a little bit but now we have very solid backing from them. The people of Bradford are becoming more aware of what's going on and more are coming each week to help us on the picket line - and the Labour Party - well, I couldn't thank them enough, because without the Labour Party, I don't think we could have carried on - they have been marvellous.

What action do you expect the government and the District Health Authority to take in response to the occupation? How do you think they will try to close the hospital eventually?

Well we've no idea because no two occupations are alike, so I couldn't really answer that. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. We're hoping they are not going to rush in and take it that way - but we don't feel they will as the Authorities have been very quiet. We don't feel they will make a rush on us. They will send for us to talk and we hope that's what happens.

Shipley Hospital is threatened with closure and five wards are due to be closed in Halifax. What sort of advice do you have for workers there, who want to save their jobs and save their hospitals?

Go into occupation - definitely it's the only way and if they want any help, we're here to help them.

Do you think the attacks on the NHS will become a major point of confrontation between the government and the unions, in the same way as it did in last year's pay strike?

Definitely, because we're not in agreement with what they're doing and we're prepared to fight against whatever cuts are made - but yes I think it could end up like last year's pay dispute.

So you think that the govern. ment has chosen the wrong issue to fight on this time?

Definitely, yes.

It is women who are playing the leading role in this occupation and in recent years women have PRODUCTION RATE WHICH ONE OF LAYING OFF No. 27 September 1983 Paper of the womer's campaign Fighback for Women's been coming to the forefront of industrial action. Do you think there is any reason for this?

Well, in years gone by women used to work for pin money, but now with the depression and unemployment, I think most women work because they have to make ends meet and support their families and I feel this is why we're becoming involved in unions and in these kinds of disputes.

What sort of problems have you faced as women taking this action that men wouldn't normally face?

Divorce •.. no seriously, my kids think I'm the lodger, but I think most of us have got round the problems by getting babysitters or trying to work it between us, but I don't think our homes have suffered. It has been hard because we're still working normally in the hospital as well as running the occupation as well as running a home - but if you don't have a husband that agrees with what you're doing, it could be very difficult.

Have you aud your fellow workers political views changed since you have been in occupation?

We did have a few that voted Conservative, I believe, but now they're regretting it. I think now if they all had the chance to go back to the polis, Labour would succeed, because I think we are all Labour minded.

Although none of us are members of the Labour Party, I think if they pushed hard enough, the Labour Party could get some members here.

SUGGESTION BOX bulbulE YOU SUGGESTED MANAGEMENT' thunt the na gaus to stifle our own demands and fall in Thay

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for closing - that's another 90 beds, and we've never had

DEFENCE JOHN SMITH (IFL)

prostres Women can wait - But what could be more draining in the long run are the pressures that