Action Gets Under Way

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Last week was the first full week in which one of the health unions -CoHSE - had sanctioned action in pursuit of their 12% pay claim. Socialist Organiser looks at the action on the ground.

ON WEDNESDAY April 28 five hospitals were affected by strike action in Greater Manchester.

ASTMS members iTs at Crumpsall Hospital struck and picketed the hospital, while NUPE members at four hospitals in Salford Health Authority took half day strike action and mounted effective pickets.

Prestwich Hospital, which has nearly 700 NUPE members, was the scene of particularly militant strike action. ANNA LUNTS, a NUPE shop steward at Prestwich Hospital, reports:

We arrived at 6.40 - only four of us, not much of a picket. It was freezing cold.

We put the branch banner up, and the "This Is An Official NUPE Picket' sign, which made us feel a bit better.

About ten to seven, nursing staff started coming in. Quite a few joined the picket line, although most CoHSE members went in.

We gave them a leaflet addressed to fellow trade unionists, explaining why we were taking the action.

About 7.30, our numbers were more respectable, and we had grown in confidence. The first of the contractors began to arrive.

We successfully turned away a lorry carrying chips, and from that point on, no contractor or supply van got past us.

About 8 o'clock, numbers had swelled considerably as ancillaries and other staff joined the picket line. We split up to cover other gates, where picketing was equally determined.

Some NUT members refused to cross the picket line, along with some individuals from NALGO, ASTMS, COHSE; and the craft unions, despite the fact that their stewards had decided not to call their members out in support.

At 9 o'clock we were joined by more student nurses, clerical staff, and part-timers. Half a dozen members of the FBU arrived to give support. The pickets cheered, and our morale was boosted.

The picketing resulted in long queues of traffic down Rurv New Road. and tailbacks on the motorway.

But, despite the hassle, many motorists hooted and cheered at the sight of striking uniformed hospital workers. A leaflet outlining our case to the general public got a good response and opened many people's eyes to the appalling wages we receive.

We turned back non-essential supplies. accontial cunnliar Tha nick. ets decided what should be allowed in, and what was considered an emergency delivery.

Some of the excuses pathetic. For example:

Driver: I've got urgent delivery' Picket: What is it?' 'Electrical equipment'. What sort?' 'Electric fires' Relatives and patients were allawer thraisah Spyeral patients came up to tell us that they supported our action. In fact, one patient, an EETPU member, sent £5 to the branch secretary to show support.

The money has been returned to the patient, but this shows that patients understand that our action is not aimed against them.

Morale was tantastic. ve shouted slogans - 'Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Out, Out, Out' We cheered when same lorries and contractors were turned back. We drank lots of coffee and waved placards.

The idea that we were all drinking rum is of course a vicious rumour.

One lady felt so inspired that she walked up and down the zebra crossing carrying IrVI carrving her nacard and holding traffic to ransom. By the way - to the three T&G members who were smuggled in in a blue land rover: your days are numbered.

The mood of militancy on the picket line was amazing, every bit as angry as a picket line in industry. Decisions about who could go in were made where they belonged, by the workers involved, although clear guidelines will be necessary

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PRESIWICH NUPE LOS TTAL