IMGpapers 1980–83

Newspapers of the International Marxist Group and its forerunners, 1980–83

PAY THE HEALTHWORKERS All out strike needed

· Socialist Challenge No. 249, 11 June 1982 · p. 2 of the scan · 1,004 words

The scan: sc-no249.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive, opens at this page)

Uncorrected machine reading. This text was read by machine (Apple Vision OCR) from a scan of a newspaper page, and the page was cut into articles by machine, at the headlines found by their type size. Nothing has been corrected: expect misread words, text from a neighbouring article, and titles that are the machine reading of the headline, some of them only fragments. Quote from the scan, not from this page.
How this article was cut and titled: headline found by type size in the OCR geometry (split_tabloid.py); 3-7 of 7; machine-segmented newspaper page; uncorrected Vision OCR.

page 2 of the scan

the war OVER A hundred resolutions critical of Labour's front bench's stand on the war are estimated to have been sent to Party headquarters. including the construction union UCATT and the traindrivers have also opposed the war.

'This branch expresses our total opposition to the war with Argentina and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the British task West typical of received. a war which can onlv strenathen the most vicious anti-union government seen in Britain since the 1930s.

Newham went on to call for a 'massive show of opposition to the warmongers, Thatcher and Reagan, demonstration on 6 June and the picket of the American embassy on 7 June, and resolved to lobby for LP policy to be in line with this resolution.

our MP votes according to the above policy in any parlamentary arvision.

Thatcher's atrocious behaviour has let her off the hook. Now she is running into Reagan recognises that she cannot fight the whole of Latin America -position to reap the benefits of a policy of consistent opposition. Only if Labour commits itself to complete withdrawal and starts to build a mass movement on the issue, can this disaster be reversed.

Foot's leadership and the issue taken to conference. Resolutions to conference should call for • support to those MPs who voted against the war condemnation of the front bench's stand • complete withdrawal Atlantic It is this issue above all others on which the present leadership of the labour movement should be called to account.

alternative to Thatcher at home because they won't oppose her class's dirty work abroad: this is the message we should try to get over.

Several major unions union ASLEF the many we have 'Trade unionists have no interest in CND nauonal 'We finally demand,' it concludes, 'that What should be the next step in dealing warmongering?

trouble even Labour is not in a should be challenged South Foot and Healey don't fight for a socialist WHILE the Tory government spends £3.5bn to wage war in the South Atlantic, it 'can't afford' the f6m needed to pay the health workers the 12 per cent claim. The offer of 4 per cent is in fact a wage cut for 500,000 of the lowest paid workers in Tine country. All OUL strike action is necessary now to win their demands.

More than 400,000 health workers are earning less than f82 per week ine orncla poverty ine lo! a married person with two children. offer a cleaner would be 79p a week better off after deductions. a porter dp and a staff nurse £2.34. win Inllaton al cent represents substantial wage cut.

Thatcher wants to use the health SCI VICE prepare another round of wage cuts for ine Dubnc sector and to set the pace SCCLOT well. Because the health service workers are primarily and black workers she feels she has an easy target' But the health workers are fighting back. After six years OI incomes policy they have had enough. The support tor the two days of action on 4 and 8 June is a clear warning to cher that the health workers are prepared to fight.

3000 miners have already taken action suppor of the health workers miners have voted overwhelmingly to do the same along with the water and Liaisoull workers; this could become a maior tes strength the Tories.

Not only will they be challenged on the pay front, but their anti-union laws will be tested. Seconlegal under the '80 law and sympathy action will Soon cutlawcu uluc the latest round of anti-union legislation.

The response of health workers and other sections shows that many workers are prepared to take on the Tories. The main obstacle to this is the trade union leadership. Within the NHS unions only NUPE has declared for all out acand others LOR are holding back.

It is clear that all out action with essential services under workers' control is the only way to win. A mumor or onc uay sud pages can be useful in building up sunport and preparing for all out strike. But one day stopwill not win the pages claim, and in the end will waste the energies of the members and lead demoralisation.

When the TUC Health Services Committee meets on 9 June it should set the date for all out action.

The trade union leaders will themselves off the hook by appealing to the Tories to send the dispute to arbitration. This should also be opposed. All health workers ever had from arbitration is inadequate percentage awards. differentiated according to grade.

It is essential now in the service to build the joint union committees to organise the rank and file against the weakness and hesitation of the officials.

Action is essential

health workers are to build on the support that other workers have offered. This Starvation wages in the health service are driving vitally needed skills to the private sector. This suits the Tories very well - they have been systematically destroying the NHS in order build Puivald medicine.

moreover, drawn out strike will further damage the service with even longer waiting lists. Basing themselves on action, health workers can take these to the rest working class and win support.

Militants should be bringing the NHS struggle to the attention of other workers. In particular, they should be getting delegations to the picket lines, raising cash, and inviting speakers to their branches and work-places.

Health workers are providing a national focus for the struggle against the Tories. This opportunity build opposition them should not be missed.

The Labour Party also should be giving a lead on this issue, getting speakers party platforms, branch and general Illallascillcill committees public events to mobilise support.

The Labour Party NEC should be pressed to call a national demonstration as soon as possible With a lead coming from workers in struggle this would be a big focus for anti-Tory feeling the working class and an impart of winning the healthworkers demands.

----- pull-quotes -----

OFFICAL PICKET

← WORKERS TO PAY FOR TORY WARNurses take the lead →

Something wrong on this page?