MORE than 150 workers and youth attended the conference for strike action to defend Ealing Hospital and the NHS, in Southall yesterday.
Moving the resolution, Bill Rogers chair of Chingford Aslef branch, said: ‘This conference expresses its great concern at the closure of the Maternity Department at Ealing Hospital and now the imminent closure of the Paediatrics and A&E departments.
‘These closures are being rushed through with no concern at the effect this will have on people.
‘Yesterday, the BMA announced it is organising a strike ballot for Junior Doctors against the imposition of new terms and conditions that are unsafe and unfair. That is 90-hour week working and a 30 per cent pay cut.
‘Health is a service, it is not a business. The world-famous Addenbrooke’s Hospital has been placed into special measures. It’s not just the NHS under attack, the Welfare State, introduced in 1947, was hailed as creating a land fit for heroes. Today, the Tories are intent on creating a land fit only for the bankers, bosses, private medical companies and property speculators.
‘In north London last week, police with weapons, dogs and bailiffs evicted a hundred people on an estate that is owned by a multi-millionaire tax exile. This weak Tory government is trying to turn the clock back to the start of the nineteenth century, with anti-union laws designed to make it illegal for workers to strike or even protest.
‘Trade union leaders have not lifted a finger to fight against the cuts.We need to build a new leadership throughout the trade unions that is not afraid to take on and bring down the Tories.
‘The unions must fight NHS closures with occupations to defend services and keep them open and running.
‘We’re calling on these union leaders to get off their knees and organise a general strike. Those who refuse must be sacked immediately and be replaced by a leadership prepared to defend every gain of the Welfare State by calling a general strike and going forward to a workers government and socialism.’
Among those who contributed to the discussion Christopher Watson, Unite member, said: ‘I’ve just come down from up north in solidarity with your campaign. Barrow-in-Furness maternity services are also under attack. We have to save all our hospitals. Courtesy of the News Line, the whole country is watching your campaign at Ealing. We take our hats off to you.’
Jasmine Parsons from Our West Hendon, said: ‘It is not just the NHS that is being privatised. There is wholesale privatisation all public assets. You have to force the unions to take your lead. When the NHS was first set up the amount of land handed over to it was phenomenal. Now it is all being sold off and given to property speculators. In Barnet 7,000 council homes are being demolished and replaced by 27,000 private properties. The homes and hospitals belong to us and we have to defend them.’
Anselm Adims said: ‘I’ve just retired, having worked at Ealing Hospital as a nurse for many years. The Tories want to privattise the NHS. We need the expansion of Ealing Hospital, not the closure. I want you to come every morning to join us on our picket of the hospital. The trade unions have to be made to start fighting to stop the closure of Ealing Hospital.’
