Churchill Hospital, Oxford THE PAY struggle in the health service has now begun in earnest. On Wednesday 19 May tens a one day national strike.
struggle against a government determined to keep thousands of wages.
It's not difficult to explain and militancy of the health Last week High workes.
Court judges were awardlarge as the annual wage health workers.
Over the last five years governments of all shades have consistently exploited our relatively weak bargaining position to impose real wage cuts.
This year the government baaly #scalculalcu the mood in the health serVICe Hyen with a faltering leadership at national level the rank and file are displaying a willingness to fight which has surprised INCOM each Malcolm X Subscription rates:
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For multi-reader institutions double the ahove rates 2XP Published by Cardinal Enterprizes, PO Box 50, London N1. por win ino rost Utrico Challenge This started what promises to be a tough NHS workers on poverty even those seasoned optimists among us. organised and led with the full supDIODCILY. port of the Labour Party trade the health workers could deal a body blow to Thatcher's entire economic strategy.
Unfortunately union leaderships are building on Wednesday's success by escalating the dispute through prolonged emergency cover worKers Contol.
Instead series OI weekly two hour stoppages are planned, together with selective action. Certainly selective action can disruptive.
At present for example SPECIAL OFFER 12 month inland subscription to Socialist Challenge we are offering a free copy of Nicaragua: The Sandinist Revolution by Henri Weber (normal price f2.95) or Autobiography of Inland: 12 month £14.00; 6 month £7.00; 10 issues Send io Socialist Challenge: PO Box 50, London NI laundry workers at the Royal Infirmary Aberdeen are out on strike, together Central Stores Newcastle and Northumbria But it must be spelled out that on its own partial cannot win disputes. Without placing it in the context of a run up to national sun ke acuol involving all members' selective action will rapidly play a demoralising role The main task in the NHS today is to weld together the action at local level into an irresisuble force 10l extended national strike action.
An opportunity for this occurs next week at the NUPE national conference NUPE is the largest health service union with the greatest tradition OI mutancy. There will be a major push for NUPE to 'name the date' to call out its health service members.
At the time the rest OT movement must make the WORKCIS struggle their own. In fact a victory will depend concrete solidarity obtaifled The call by OLICI workers.
South Wales miners for a one day strike through the coalfields is an important One of the many rallies of health workers around example The initiative Chesterfield trades council in calling for a token one sylvaulty stuppage on Wednesday must be followed up in all areas. Locally Socialist Challenge readers should: • make contact health service workers and offer practical assistance • make regular collections in workplaces • discuss solidarity actions in workplaces • get resolutions of sup port Inrougl and Labour Party branches • send acregatons to picket lines • organise public meeting • invite healthworkers onto platforms of public meetings building for the march and festival on 5 June
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of thousands of health workers in every district of the country responded to the official call for
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