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NHS STRIKES TO KICKSTART
WEEK OF REVOLT OVER PAY
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Health 240914
L
AST WEEK THE RESULTS FROM
the strike ballot of the biggest NHS
union, Unison, were announced. A
thumping 68 percent voted for strikes
against the Tories insulting pay offer.
The ballots of Unite and GMB members
end on 28 Septmeber and 4 October. The
NHS strike on 13 October, 7-11am, can now
provide the focus for the whole movement.
The NHS strike, followed by a week
of health workers taking their breaks, will
launch a week of strikes and demonstrations.
Local government workers are striking on
the 14th, civil service workers on the 15th,
and then two massive demonstrations take
place on the 18th in Glasgow and London
called by the TUC and STUC.
Many may feel theyd rather be out for
more than four hours, but its important to
use the action called as a successful frst step
in the fght for fair pay and the NHS.
The political impact of an NHS strike can
be hugethe Tories assault on the NHS has
enraged millions of working class people
who can see the strike as their fght too.
Insult
As the politicians grabbed a 10 percent pay
rise, public sector workers face a pay cut in
real terms, with just a 1 percent rise.
To add insult to injury, most NHS
workers wont even get the 1 percent!
The strike vote is a refection of the
rage many feel over workload, cuts, and
the privatisation undermining a service
that health workers slog day in day out to
provide. The Tories are cutting 50 billion
from the NHS, with more massive cuts
packages promised. Privatisation means that
the Tories big business chums can rake in
profts from our health care system.
And its not just the NHSthe Tories
have the whole public sector under siege.
Their decision to attack workers pay
everywhere can unify resistance. We saw
this on 10 July, when local government
workers, teachers, civil service workers, and
frefghters all walked out together.
Now the October action poses the
possibility of mobilising a fght that can
win. Solid strikes will help build pressure
on union leaders. This has to be just the
beginning of our campaign.
Crocodile
There will be huge support for NHS workers
taking action to defend it from the rich
privateer vultures. Tens of thousands took
to the streets in the last two years, opposing
A&E closures and sweeping cuts.
Ignore the crocodile tears from the
Tories, who say striking NHS workers are
neglecting patients. Its the Tories who are
cutting wards, staffng levels, and even
whole hospitalspermanently.
Doncaster Care UK strikerswho have
struck for 70 dayshave shown how
determined people are to defend the NHS.
They were employed by the NHS, then
sold off to the notorious private frm, Care
UK. Now the service is under threat as proft
is put frst. Theyre striking for the future of
the NHS and we can too.
We cant let our unions repeat mistakes.
In 2011, 2.6 million struck over pensions.
Some union leaders supported a deal that
sold members short. This led to a year of
inaction as theassault on workers intensifed.
Now our union leaders are right to push
for strikes over pay. We can win this fght.
This is a weak government, the incredible
campaign in Scotland that saw 45 percent
vote YES in a rejection of Tory austerity
created a crisis for Cameron and Miliband
alike. Labour promises the same cuts and
lined up behind the Tories in Scotland.
Whatever government we get in 2015, we
have to be prepared to fght. Autumn and
winter strikes can beat the pay freeze, and
allow us to strengthen branch and workplace
organisation. But to win, we have to
organise pressure now to escalate strikes.
As 68 percent of the biggest NHS union votes for strikes...
Care UK strikers are fghting for the future of the
NHS: so far they have struck 70 days

WHAT YOU CAN DO: GET ACTIVE
If youre not in a union, join now
Contact other local unions and ask them to
use petitions supporting the strikes to defend
the NHS
Organise for your picket line to be a hub
for resistance to the Tories on the day. Some
branches are doing Breakfasts for the NHS
where students, patients, trade unionists and
campaigns will join the picket for a solidarity
breakfast!
Ask your branch for pay campaign materials
and to organise a meeting in your section.
Organise union stalls: leafet your work to
build the best turnout for strike day.
Invite strikers, such as Care UK, council
workers and firefighters, to your branch and
send a donation and message of support.
UNITE THE RESISTANCE
STRIKING
TOGETHER
Organising to win conference
Speakers include: Unison Care UK strikers, Matt
Wrack FBU general secretary, Billy Hayes CWU, John
McDonnell MP, US fast food strikers, Jane Aitchison
PCS, Ian Lawrence NAPO, Ian Hodson BFAWU, Peter
Pinkney RMT, Mandy Brown Lewisham College UCU.
Saturday 15 November, Bloomsbury
Baptist Church, central London.
Book up online at uniteresist.org