OVER 500 workers and youth marched to Ealing Hospital yesterday on the day that its Maternity Unit was closed, pledging that they would battle to see that it was reopened.
Local residents, trade unionists, students and youth marched through the streets of Southall shouting, ‘Defend Ealing Maternity, No More Cuts, Don’t Let It Close!
The march began at the Miri Piri Gurdwara Hindu Temple and made its way down the busy shopping centre of Southall Broadway. Shops on Southall Broadway had shut their doors and shutters for two hours in support of the march to keep Ealing Hospital Open. Marchers ran up to passing shoppers calling on them to join the march.
Women with babies, born at Maternity at Ealing Hospital turned their prams around and joined the march. Shoppers waiting at bus stops joined the march and it swelled in size, as chants of ‘Defend Ealing Hospital, No More Cuts’ rang out louder and louder as they approached the hospital.
At the rally outside the hospital Tony McEvoy, Secretary of the West London council of Action called on all hospital workers across the country and all trade unions and all those that want to smash austerity and the Tory government to attend the West London Council of Action conference which is taking place on Sunday July 19 from 2-5pm at the Dominion Centre, 112 The Green, Southall UB2 4BQ. The battle to reopen Ealing’s A&E will be one of the special items on its agenda.
Tony McEvoy said: ‘We know our occupation did not halt the closure, only a strike by the trade unions in the hospital supported by industrial action throughout the area could have done that. However, what the occupation proved for all to see was that there is massive support throughout the entire area for action to keep the Ealing maternity open, and defend the NHS.
‘Local people throughout the area understand that NHS cuts, closures of Maternity Departments, closures of A&Es cost lives! These cuts are in fact death sentences to whole communities.’
He demanded: ‘All cuts, department closures and hospital closures, must be defeated by trade union action.
‘The trade unions must be organised for a General Strike to bring down this government.’
NUJ member and former councillor Noori Zahida showed her hospital wrist band and said: ‘The fight has only just begun.’
‘I am a patient and I have postponed my treatment to join the march. We are proud of our community. This is a unique response from our community. If you don’t stand up for your rights. You will never get your rights. This is the time to take to the streets.’
BMA member Anna Athow said: ‘The occupation and the march of Ealing Hospital must be applauded, district General Hospitals were one of the biggest achievement of the NHS. ‘This struggle at Ealing Hospital is of national and international significance. Long live the battle to defend the NHS.’
The Pakistani Workers Association speaker Rajindrekoemar Jagram told the rally: ‘If we don’t fight for our right then mothers and babies will die. Now is the time to stand up and fight and demand that this hospital stays open.’
Salvinder Dhillon from the Indian Workers Association said: ‘This struggle is about defending workers rights, defending lives, and defending the NHS. We have to ensure that the Maternity is reopened. We will use “People Power”, and we will force them to reopen it.’
Jonty Leff from the Workers Revolutionary Party said: ‘We must build a new leadership for workers in the trade unions. Forward to a General Strike to defend the NHS and forward to socialism. We must build up the Workers Revolutionary Party to mobilise workers to overthrow capitalism.’
