Cardiff workers' reply to health cuts STRIKE

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NUPE members among the operating theatre staff at the University Hospital of Wales have taken indefinite strike action from this morning against a gross shortage of staff in the operating theatres.

Staffing levels are so low that they have become a danger to the patient.

At the beginning of the week, a swab went missing during a cardiac operation and was not found until an hour after the operation. The patient had to be X-rayed to make sure that the swab had not been left inside THE TGWU has decided to give official backing at national level to the four week old strike by 2500 contract workers at Esso's Fawley refinery, Southampton.

All indications are that other Confed unions are about to follow suit. This is an important boost for the strikers, who have fought the cops to a standstill in. defence of their picket lines.

The dispute started over the On Wednesday Septer er 28 Cardiff hospital workers made their response to the Tory health cuts by walking out on strike. Geoff Williams reports.

the incision. If it had been, patient would have had undergo surgery again remove it.

There was only annual claim on pay, conditions and hours (see SO 146). Earlier this year Esso refinery workers accepted 9.1%. The key issues, though, remain:

• Contractors' itsistance to casualisation of their labour, • to the undermining of site agreements, and • to the erosion of effective union organisation.

Their new-found militancy the to to of staff on the theatre floor servicing the nurse. There used to bethree.

Management has refused to increase staffing levels, despite representations from staff over the last six weeks. They have refused to spend more money in the interests of patient-care -despite the fact that 60% more operations are being done this year than last.

Arrangements have been made to meet management to try to resolve the dispute. In the meantime emergency cover is being provided.

forced both employers and reluctant union bureaucrats to face facts.

Since the huge strike vote of September 5 a 24 hour picket had been maintained. However, the abject failure of Confed unions to declare the strike offcial had encouraged. profuse scabbing by certain transport drivers.

On Monday September 19 a mass picket was held to counter this. Hundreds of pickets arrived, and after a fierce battle with the cops they totally blocked the main gate. A traffic tail-back of over 10 miles developed. • On Tuesday another mass picket of several hundred took place. The cops were out in even greater force, but determined picketing turned back a number of oil tankers.

The late arrest of two pickets dashed an already fragile truce. Scores of angry workers stormed into the TGWU regional offices in Southampton.

Only when strikers took possession of his office did John Ashman, the regional secretary, offer them a hearing.

Such was the pressure applied at this meeting that Ashman quickly agreed to a signed statement instructing all transport drivers not to cross Esso picket lines. The strikers accepted this, but made clear that it was a temporary expedient towards winning official status for their dispute.

Their action was vindicated on Friday September 23 when the strike was declared official.

The strike committee must now give a positive lead to the magnificent initiatives taken by these workers. The mass pickets will face great intimidation from cop strike-breakers. If strike leaders hold firm, they will have Esso over a barrel. Donations to Fawley strike committee, c/o Transport House, London Rd, Southampton. All!

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