Sunday, July 29, 2012

Olympics 2012 - We Love OUR NHS

Thanks to Nurse Kate and Danny Boyle of course !

Olympic NHS Nurses Tweet Pics - Liberal Conspiracy

NHS Nurses Pic - Liberal Conspiracy
Sunny Hundal

You saw the NHS nurses at the Olympics ceremony last night… but what happened afterwards? Horse McDonald @horsemusic

They returned home of course, many of them decked out in their brilliant costumes. Some went out drinking afterwards.

Naturally, Twitter was ablaze with their pictures. Here is a selection.

(pics via various sources, including NYT)

Friday, July 27, 2012

Sean Geraghty 1936-2012 - NHS Workers Debt of Honour

Sean Geraghty (1936-2012)

Fleet Street Electricians Leader

NHS Solidarity 1982

Rodney Bickerstaffe, In 1982 General Secretary of the National Union of Public Employees remembered how much his support for the NHS pay Campaign in 1982 meant.

"He (Sean) was always ready to help everyone," Bickerstaffe said. "Solidarity was a key part of his make-up. It wasn't only just the nurses, but also other health workers who knew that he would always be there whatever the cost. Everyone knew that he wasn't in it for himself but that he was there to support others, especially those who were most vulnerable. There was terrific respect for him throughout the movement."

Fleet Street Solidarity Strike 1982

Full COHSE support for Sean Geraghty

Full Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE The health care union)) backing has been pledged to electricians' leader Sean Geraghty who faces a fine and heavy legal costs after his members held up the Fleet Street printing presses on 11^th August 1982 in support of the NHS pay campaign during the 9-13th protest week of action.

Sean Geraghty, secretary of the London Press Branch of the Electricians Union (ETU), was fined £350 for contempt of court and ordered to pay court costs after his 1,300 members disobeyed an injunction obtained by the Newspaper Publishers' Association (NPA) to stop the threatened twenty-four hour strike on 11 August. 1982.

COHSE has offered to pay the fine and contribute towards the costs, expected to be a massive £10,000, incurred after a court appearance lasting only a few minutes.

The NPA brought the case against Mr Sean Geraghty for breaching the injunction. Under the 1980 Employment Act, the courts could have sent him to jail and he still faces prison if he fails to pay the fine by October. The electricians' branch has yet to decide whether the fine should be met.

Hundreds of NHS workers marched from St Bartholomew's Hospital in London to the High Court in New Fetter Lane on 13 August 1982, the day of the hearing.COHSE members from Regions 5, 6, and 8 were well represented both outside the court and at the Department of Health & Social Security’s London headquarters at the Elephant and Castle, where demonstrators joined the vigil organised by London health staff for the week long protest.

Although COHSE initially expressed concern that the Fleet Street action would distract publicity from the health staffs' case, COHSE General Secretary Albert Spanswick described the electricians' stoppaqe as a wonderful gesture of solidarity' and warned at serious action' would result if Mr Geraghty was imprisoned

Photo

Sean Geraghty addressing supporters outside the New Fetter Lane High Court;

NOTE:
The threat under new anti trade union laws to jail Sean Geraghty, led to a surge of support for the campaign. Unquestionably, had he been jailed, the industrial action in response would have significant from the unions.

The diminutive, softly spoken, 46 year old Dubliner. Sean Geraghty, who worked at the Daily Mirror became a household name, celebrity and working class hero overnight.

However, the Tories anti trade union Law had been especially drafted to ensure that their could be no Martyrs, for the movement to organise around.

The right wing Electricians Union were also not happy with this act of solidarity and tried to break up the branch ad discipline Geraghty.

It has to be said that the COHSE leadership unlike NUPE had to be pushed into support for Sean and the strike fearing a right wing backlash and a TUC keen to remain in dialogue with a Conservative government it did not understand.

Thursday, July 05, 2012

NHS Direct staff stage "Work-In" at Nottingham to defend Patiet Care

East Midlands NHS Direct staff have been joined by colleagues in Cornwall as they stage a "work-in" to expose problems with the replacement 111 service being rolled out from August.

Nursing and Health advisors providing NHS Direct helpline services to Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire are reporting for work in their own time to take calls to highlight the valuable work they do and ensure that patients get the best possible quality of service on the NHS's 64th birthday.

Staff are deeply concerned about the affect the change will have on patients and on health services. The new 111 service has far fewer nurses taking calls - 75% of calls to NHS Direct are currently taken by a nurse, under the new 111 service only 17% will be. NHS Direct has two qualified nurses to every health advisor – NHS 111, has six health advisors for every nurse.

The 111 service will not clinically assess patients, or give them access to emergency dental or contraceptive advice. People suffering mental health problems from patients engaged in self harm or depression will not longer be able to get the help they need by calling NHS Direct. This will lead to more patients being sent to A&E, GP surgeries and more ambulance 999 call outs, and could see longer waiting times as these health services are pushed to breaking point.

UNISON has also repeatedly requested that the Department of Health publish the findings of a report undertaken by Sheffield University into the new NHS 111 service which we believe highlights the likely impact on A&E and GP Services.

Sandra Maxwell, UNISON NHS Direct Nursing Convenor, said: “UNISON nurses and health advisors will be taking action on 5th July 2012 (NHS Day) - the 64th anniversary of the founding of the NHS - to urge the Department of Health to stop rolling out the 111 service until it has been fully evaluated. It must also come clean and publish its evaluation of the NHS 111 service.

“Those living in rural areas seeking advice on injuries they have had or their child’s illness, will have little option but to travel long distances to attend A&E, when advice previously given by a qualified NHS Direct nurse may have resolved the issue.”

Michael Walker UNISON National Officer, said: “UNISON has repeatedly called on the Department of Health to publish the Sheffield University evaluation into the NHS 111 pilot services and to undertake formal public consultation on the closure of NHS Direct, with the public, GP's and health professionals. Despite a legal requirement, this has not happened to date.

“UNISON is particularly concerned that the new 111 service has fewer nurses available to take calls and therefore unqualified staff will be unable to carry out vital “clinical assessments”. This will inevitably lead to a huge increase in people turning up to A&E departments, to ambulance call outs and more patients being referred to GP surgeries.

UNISON estimates that 50 extra patients a day could present themselves to A&E departments and 1,000 extra ambulance call outs (costing £800 a time).

As staff in Truro took the same action in soludarity, Michelle Goodman UNISON Nursing Rep at Truro said: "We feel passionately that as nurses we need to let the public know what is happening at NHS Direct and in particular the loss in access of emergency nursing advice under the new NHS 111 signposting service"

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

NHS 1948 - 2012 Killed by The Coalition (LibDem Disgrace)

Liberal Democratic Ministers in the Tory led Coalition "banged the table" during Tuesdays Ministerial meeting to show approval at the passing of the NHS & Social Care Bill.

The Bill is opposed by the majority of NHS nursing & medical professionals, health unions, patients groups and the public. Despite the massive opposition to the Bill the Tories have pushed through radical reform of the NHS which will see wholesale privatisation of sections of it, all with the support of the Liberal Democrats who once championed support for the NHS.

The truth is without Liberal Democratic support this attack on the NHS would not have succeeded, it is doubtful that a Conservative majority Government could have got this Bill through but the Liberal Democrats have acted as a useful shield to the Tories privatisation anti NHS agenda. As for Shirley Williams she has shown herself willing to sell her deepest convictions to remain loyal to a failed Government and Party, every report of Shirley Williams life will refer to her total miscalculation and blinkered response to the NHS & Social Care Act, unlike her "Gang of Four" colleague Dr David Owen, who has been impeccable in his opposition to the attacks on the NHS.

As with the the Poll Tax, opposition to the NHS & Social Care Act will if anything intensify, patients every day experience will show how dogma and not ethics have driven through this Bill. We will win if we remain committed and focused in exposing the many failings of this Act.

Keep up the pressure.

We Are Many
They Are Few

Saturday, March 10, 2012

COHSE Wales

COHSE
Confederation of Health Service Employees
Cymru - Wales
Region 10

National Asylum Workers Union
National Union of County Officers

UK National Executive Committee Members elected from Wales, No 10 Region

NAWU19?? - 1928 M. JOYCE (Bridgend)
NAWU1928 - 1946 TOMMY G WESTCOTT (Bridgend)
NUCO19?? - 1946 SYDNEY MITCHELL (Rhondda)
COHSE1946 - 1949 TOMMY G WESTCOTT (Bridgend)
COHSE1949 - 1959 J.O. LEWIS (Bridgend)
COHSE1959 - 1973 DAI HOPKINS (C.R.I.)

* Increase to two NEC members 1968

COHSE1968 - 1977 JACK CHARLES (Cefn Coed)
COHSE1973 - 1981 GERALD T DAVIES (Abergavenny)
COHSE1977 - 1979 DAVE GALLIGAN (U.H.W.)
COHSE1979 - 1980 BOB JOHN (Whitchurch)
COHSE1981 - 1984 BILL ADDAMS(C.R.I)
COHSE1982 - 1990 JOHN VIDAL(Gwynedd)
COHSE1984 - 1990 BARBARA THYER(Rhondda)
COHSE 1991 - 1992 CATH JONES (Whitchurch)
COHSE 1991 - PAT DWAN (Cefn Coed)
COHSE 1992 - LLENOIS PHILLIPS (East Glamorgan)

COHSE Chair Wales Regional Council 1945 - formation of Unison

1945-1948 W.J. Hussey (St Cadocs)
1949-1959 Councillor Sidney Mitchell (Rhondda)
1960-1969 Arthur Powell (Bridgend)
1970-1971 George Pyle (Aberbeeg)
1972 -1973 Gerald t Davies (Abergavenny)
1974-1984 Iori Davies (Whitchurch)
1985- 1986 Allan Couch (Cefn Coed)
1987- Glyn Graham (Gwynedd)

COHSE WALES REGION OFFICERS 1955

Councillor Sydney Mitchell (Rhondda) - Chairman
Dai Hopkins - Vice Chairman
NEC member - J. O Lewis (Bridgend)
Regional Secretary - F. Mc Carthy

A.C. Powell - Bridgend
G. Thomas - Bridgend
G. Pyle - Aberbeeg
L. J. Oakley - Royal Gwent
T.G. John - Whitchurch
G. Haylings -Pontypridd
A. Davies - Carmarthen
I. Daniel - Carmarthen
J.W. Davies - Tredegar
P.G. Tiley - Abergavenny
D. Weaver - Abergavenny
P.Palmer - Ely Lodge
F.S. Tudball - Hensol Castle
E.G. Read - Mount Pleasant
J. Perry - Hill House
D. B. Davies - Cefn Coed
C. Neville - Aberystwyth
P. Powell- Chepstow
T.P Reardon - Talgarth
A.W Green Royal Gwent
T.G Westcott Bridgend Officers & Sub Officers
H. J Stonelake Porth
A.E. Lewis - Talgarth
A.E. Davies St Davids (Cardiff)
G Pyle - Aberbeeg
T. O'Neil - Mounton

COHSE Executive Regional Executive Powell, Haylings and Pyle and officers

Membership COHSE Wales January 1954 2,622

COHSE Regional Office

Merthyr Chambers
50 High Street
Merthyr Tydfil

NOTES

C. F Cromer COHSE General Secretary retired in 1953, Mr J. T Waite was elected general secretary.

Retirement of long standing and respected branch secretary at Cardiff Royal infirmary Mr E. Baker awarded with life membership.

Pontypridd branch resolution calling for a TB allowance Carried.
Problem with new Matron at Porth Hospitals, student nurses complaining about her rule.

Regrading claims won included, nurses, clerical staff, hospital stokers (heating), bakers and farm Labourers to head pigman (NHS psychiatric hospitals often had attached farms for therapy and food for patients).

A number of cases of staff being forced to work excessive hours or on the wrong grades were reported.

The Region was concerned about the use of overseas NHS staff.

the Regional Secretary Mc Carthy stated
"There are still within the health services, a large number of employees, who are unorganised each and everyone of us have a responsibility in this direction, by example, and force of argueement we have to convince these employees that it is in their interest to organise within a specialist trade union and that union is COHSE".

membership in the Region increased by 67 in the year.

The Regional secretary reported that as a union official he had in 1955 carried out the following duties.
509 visits to COHSE union branches
68 meetings with hospital management
Undertaken 13 appeals
Attended 12 regional union meetings

Recruitment in Ebbw Vale and North Monmouthshire was being carried out by G Pyle, COHSE District Secretary.

L. W. Oakley at Royal Gwent Hospital had retired as COHSE Branch secretary in 1955

New branch of COHSE established at Pension Hospital, Chepstow, Monmouthsire. This was due to the efforts of the long established branch secretary P. Powell at Chepstow branch.

The biggest increases in COHSE membership had occured at Cardiff Royal Infirmary (CRI), Aberbeeg Pontypridd.

Overseas guests at October 1955 Regional Council were
Mr N.C.A Thompson Exchange manger and Mr C.H.K Brown Gold Coast Personnel officer Ministry Labour
Mer Wong Siew Wai Malaya Labour Officer and Mr Loke Wing San Asst Comm for Labour officer

1956

P G Tiley Abergavenny
D R Watkin Bridgend officer
A. E Lewis Talgarth
W. D Davies Ely
D B Davies Cefn Coed
P Powell Chepstow
D. L. Williams Talgarth

It was reported that discussions were being held with NUPE at a national level

COHSE branches were demanding in 1956

A 44hr week for nurses
6 weeks holiday
Seperate council for mental health nurses
Increase in salary for NHS staff
Enhanced overtime

COHSE branches were actively discussion banning overtime and working to rule strikes in furtherance of their claim for a 44hr week and substantial pay rise for nurses.

It was reported at may 1956 regional council of COHSE Wales that staff in the laundry departments (Tredegar COHSE branch) were demanding that staff who operated steam iron presses should secure an enhanced or plus rate of 3d per hour The region agreed .

Council noted that T.G. Westcott (Tommy G Westcott - Bridgend - national asylum workers union) was due to retire after long service to COHSE/NAWU and the NHS.

COHSE had secured the re instatement of nurse Mrs M. Wakely Blaina hospital .

Membership of COHSE increased by 173 in 1956 in Wales

COHSE reported supporting NHS Tailors, ambulance members working for the Red Cross

the winners of the 1956 COHSE Christmas Draw included
Sister Walstead, MOP Hospital Chepstow
E Jaynes, 5 Buller Terrace Tredgar
Sister Nancy Jones F1 ward St Davids, Carmarthen

At theDecember 1956 it was reported that Mr I Adams, Brigend (Mental) hospital branch ex regional council member had died

1957

Dai Hopkins (CRI) loses vote for Vice Chair to A. C Powell (Bridgend)

A. C. Vine - Mounton Chepstow
D. R Watkin - Bridgend Officer
E Williams - Cardiff Royal infirmary (CRI)
N A D Bosanko - Hensol Castle
J Edwards - Ely
E W Jones - Bridgend
J Perry - Hill House
D Weaver - Abergavenny
T.E. Selkirk - Mounton Chpstow
G Goodwin - Brecon
K. Evans - Bridgend
H. J Stonelake - Porth
A. Davies - Llwynypia
E. G Read - Mount Pleasant
A W Green - Royal Gwent Hospital
Dai Hopkins - CRI
D. R Watkins - Bridgend officers
G Stephens - Abergavenny
I Daniels - Camarthen
E W Jones - Bridgend
A. E Lewis - Talgarth
T.G John - Whitchurch
G Pyle - Aberbeeg

It was reported that the COHSE national ban on overtime in furtherance of reduced hours and improved pay had been 100% effective in Wales, the branch that had carried out the selective action being Bridgend from 1st until 28th September 1956

A 46 hour week for NHS ancillary workers was introduced 1st October 1957 down to 44 in july 1958

April 1957 it was reported that Mr F. McCarthy, was to be the sole regional secretary for COHSE Wales No 10 Region, previously he had combined the role with regional secretary for South west No 7 region. The new regional secretary in the South west was Mr Tiley.

It was reported that Alderman Sydney Mitchell OBE was now President elect for 1958 Welsh regional council of Labour (Labour Party).

COHSE was conducting recruiting at Rookwood Hospital and a new COHSE union branch at Brecon Hospital (Powys) branch had been established.

Wales COHSE Union Branches 1957
Abergavenny
Aberystwyth
Carmarthen
Chepstow
Bridgend
Ely Lodge (Cardiff)
Hill House
Pontypridd Hospital
Mount Pleasant
Amman Valley
Cardiff Royal Infirmary
Cefn Coed
Hensol Castle
East Glamorgan
Caerleon
Llwynypia Hospital
Porth Hospital
St David's Hospital
Cefn Coed Officers & Sub Officers
Talgarth
Whitchurch
Swansea Central
Mounton (Pension) Chepstow
Bridgend
Bridgend Officers & sub officers
Tredegar Hospital
Abeerbeeg Hospital
Royal Gwent Hospital
Pontypool Hospital

1957 COHSE union Wales membership 2,898 in 16 branches

It was reported that a national ballot of (mainly nurses) in mental hospitals and mental deficiency hospitals(mentally handicapped) had resulted.

In favour of a national ban on overtime 11,126
against 2,995

Cefn Coed branch had written to branches in the region urging support for Rainhill Hospital (Lancashire) "sit down strike" in support of improved pay and reduced hours for nurses.

Issues for local branches included hospital accomodation rent rises and imposing of new rotas, such as at Blaina.

A big recruitment campaign was in place at St Woolas, and Royal Gwent hospital

Delegete from Hensol Castle Mr Bosanko Hensol Castle

membership 2,898 16 branches

New COHSE Branch Secretary at the newly formed COHSE union branch at Brecon hospital, Councillor G. Goodwin.

New COHSE hospital union Branches at

Shepton Mallett 1954
Bristol United 1954
Chepstow Pensions (Mounton) 1955
Stapleton General 1955
Royal Devon Exeter 1955
Brecon 1957

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Netley Hospital WW1 banner

Netley Hospital, Southampton was a military hospital during World War 1, the main hospital had been expanded considerably to cope with causalities from the front. At it's peak had over 2,500 beds and an estimated 50,000 patients were treated at the hospital during the war.

This unique picture of World War 1 soldiers and a banner which has Power House Camp - Netley Light Infantry - (power hose probably referring to the electricity/gas supply).

click to enlarge photo above

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

St Benedict's Hospital (Tooting) Occupation 1978-1980

LEAFLET

SUPPORT ST BENEDICT'S

23 arrested while defending St Benedict's Hospital

For 6 days in mid-September, St Benedict's Hospital..work-in was systematically and viciously raided by the Wandsworth,Sutton and East Merton Area Health Authority (AHA), backed by a large force of police and a scab private ambulance company, Junesco.

By September 19th, 63 patients had been Forcibly removed from the friendly security of their beds and wards and dispersed in chaos to a variety of other hospitals in the area.

The staff at St Benedicts began their official work-in:to prevent closure of their hospital on November 15th 1979. A very strong support committee was organised in the local community with backing from Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Council, local pensioners and others who wanted to maintain the high level of geriatric care at St Ben's. Local London Ambulance Service (LAS) ambulance drivers pledged their support and refused to cross the picket line except for normal transport.

IT WAS BECAUSE THE WORK-IN WAS SO SUCCESSFUL, that management (with the agreement of Patrick Jenkin, secretary of state for Health and Social Security) was forced to resort to intimidation, confrontation and violence to break the staff and campaign organisation, and force closure of the hospital.

DIRTY TRICKS

1) To break the strength of the work-in, the AHA took legal action by serving injunctions against 8 leading members of the work-in' This included 4 staff members (from COHSE, NUPE and the RCN), 3 union officials (NUPE and COHSE) and 1 local campaigner.

This was to prevent those named from doing any thing to prevent the removal of patients and to prevent the union-officials from entering the building.

2) The police used the excuse of the new Employment Act to impose an arbitrary limit of 2 pickets only. Then on the fourth day of the raids, they refused to allow any pickets on the gate at all, and the private ambulances got through.

3) As a direct result of the raid, 23 pickets were arrested. The charges range from wilful obstruction to criminal damages. One woman who works in administration at a nearby hospital was suspended from duty, although she was at the picket line on her day off. (She is now waiting the outcome of an inquiry

St Benedict's campaigners calculate that fines arising from the charges may cost several thousand pounds.

THE FIGHTBACK GOES ON

34 patients remain at St Benedict's, and will probably remain there til November. Meanwhile the campaign against cuts, job loss and for decent health care for all continues, all over the country.

JOIN YOUR LOCAL CAMPAIGN. TAKE ACTION TO STOP CUTS.

GIVE GENEROUSLY TO OUR APPEAL FUND

ALL CHEQUES AND MONEY TO :

Battersea and Wandsworth, Trades Council
St Benedict's Defence Fund, 19 Oakland Rd., London SW11

WE APPEAL TO YOU - SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHTBACK AGAINST CUTS AND CLOSURES

Produced by FIGHTBACK (against health cuts) For St Benedict's Campaign
c/o Arthur Hautot, St Benedict's Hospital, London SW17

30 Camden Rd, London NW1

NOTE

St Benedict's was occupied by staff against closure from November 1978 until the raids in September 1980 and thus one of the longest running hospital occupations in Britain.

After the closure of the long stay geriatric hospitals, reports on the impact on patient care began to emerge labelled "relocation effects" it highlighted for the first time the impact of speedy closures on patients. Close to a third of patients forcibly moved in the "raids" dying within the first six months.

Arthur Hautot was later a St James Hospital (Balham) COHSE Steward, husband of June Hautot (picture below)

June Hautot

Arthur Hautot (left)

Monday, February 27, 2012

1988 COHSE Nurses Special Duty Payments Campaign

LONDON NURSES
FIGHTBACK TO KEEP
SPECIAL DUTY PAYMENTS

LOW PAY - NO WAY

London's low paid and dedicated nurses now face pay cuts of up to £40 per week(£2,000 per year) as a direct result of the Conservative Governments proposals to stop special duty payments and replace them with a fixed hourly rate of £1.20. This will affect all grades and all specialities and will surely lead to more nurses leaving the NHS, worsening the already horrific nursing shortage in London.

PAY JUSTICE FOR LONDON'S NURSES

The Tory Governments proposals will mean the scrapping of special duty payments of 30 per cent extra for night nurses and the extra 60 percent payment for Sunday and holiday work leading to cuts in pay from 35p to £3.06 per hour for London's nurses.

COHSE- London's nursing union says enough is enough COHSE nurses demand pay justice in 1988. London's nurses will not sit and watch our profession undermined due to low pay - join the COHSE resistance.

DEDICATION DOES NOT PAY THE RENT MANAGEMENT'S PROPOSALS

1. Ending of Special Duty Payments and their replacement with a flat rate payment of £1.20 an hour for all night and weekend work.

2. Flat rate payments of 60p an hour for Stand-by Duty at place of work and just 30p an hour for On-call Duty.

3. A change to Excess Hours (overtime) payments.

4. No payment of Special Duty Allowances while attending any courses that lead to promotion or a change of post.

5. A Sleeping-in at work Allowance of 90p an hour.

6. A national agreement covering staff accompanying patients on holiday. This would entitle staff to 12 hours at plain time rates and 12 hours at Sleeping-in Allowance rates for each 24 hour period.

LONDON COHSE NURSES DEMAND

NO CUTS IN SPECIAL DUTY PAYMENTS

£1,000 INCREASE IN LONDON WEIGHTING

20%INCREASE IN NATIONAL NURSES PAY

NO POLL TAX FOR STUDENT NURSES

NO CUTS IN LONDON'S HEALTH SERVICE

PAY JUSTICE

NOTE

As a result of the campaign waged by COHSE and NUPE nurses Special duty Payments were saved.

Action by nurses and donor carers in the Blood Service, followed by industrial action in North Manchester put an end to the Conservatives plans to cut Special duty payments.

A campaign waged by COHSE (as part of the general 1988 nurses industrial Acton) to secure an increase in London weighting was also successful in 1988 securing the biggest increase every won.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

A Brief History of South Africian Nursing Trade Unionism

A Brief History of South African Nursing

By Moipone Tlapu NEHAWU Trade Union (July 2000)

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSES

The theme of the National League for Nursing National Conference on Nursing Education: "Community Building and Activism, "is a timely topic in this chaotic and changing world.

Even in South Africa, where confusion and violence often prevail, where there are many voices within liberation struggle. Nursing is part of this activism. The many voices create debate, and it is through this debate that South African people will be able to clarify their ideas.

STRUGGLE OF BLACK NURSES

The black nurses struggle in SA was subtle as most of the nurses are apathetic because they see themselves as being part of an elite profession isolated from community struggle. Nurses were unable to bring change in the communities in either health sector or society at large despite their numerical numbers / advantage some of the apathy, argument goes lies in the militaristic origins of Nursing as exemplified by the career of Florence Nighgtigale (Noixeba Lubanga) 1999.

The South African Nursing Organisation /Association where officials were predominately white, saw themselves as an exclusive group whose interest were identical with those of the ruling class and the government in power blacks had no power and influence on those who made the laws,and had no voting right. Nursing leaders in S.A. have actively discouraged Nurses from becoming politically involved and challenging the apartheid health care system. They have repeatedly involved notions of professional neutrality to justify this attitude. According to these leaders, the nurses professional image must be maintained at all cost despite any Social, economic and political changes.

Nurses should remain in the Nursing only Organisation so as don't mix with more progressive leaders from other professional world.

In 1920's African Women worked initially as domestics in South' Africans growing cities because they encountered the least resistance from men and women of other racial groups in this kind of work, and every white family aspires to have a servant, there was an ever growing demand. In Johannesburg and other centers, the churches set up native girl's industrial schools, in which girls were taught the rudiments of housekeeping. By the 1920's female African domestic servants were becoming the most in Rand and other Urban Centres.

BANTU NURSES ASSOCIATION

Black Nurses did not belong to the white^only S.A. trained Nurses Association (SATNA) which was founded in 1913. Realizing they could not belong to the SATNA, the African Nurses led by a graduate Nurse form Victoria hospital at Lovedale, decided as early as the 1920's to form their own Organisation, the Bantu Nurses Association (BNA). In 1930, hospitals in around Johannesburg were training African Nurses, and the white Matron directors of Nursing) held meeting to discuss the feasibility of forming an association like BNA. Lowles (1933) P23 recalls how they decided it would be better to "lay emphasis upon the formation of wayfarer detachments (i.e Girl Scouts) than institute an association for black nurses instead the matrons emphasized the Witwatersrand branch of SANTA should elect a white Nurse to represent Bantu Nurses.

In 1932 after the black nurses struggle to convince "White Matron" to continue with Bantu Nurses Association there were finally allowed to affiliate with SATNA. In the early 1940's S.A. faced a severe Nursing crisis. Contributing factors were poor living conditions, low salaries, shortage of nurses, restriction on married nurses, and nurses leaving the profession. As a direct result of dissatisfaction with SATNA, BNA started a movement in 1942 to form a new organisation along trade union lines.

This organization convened a meeting in Red cross hall Johannesburg on the 30th August, 1942, with a view to organizing the Nursing Profession as a trade Union the main speaker was a representative form Garment workers Union, (GAWU) he stressed the fact that nurses were exploited by their employers, and many of the long suffering nurses immediately reacted favorably to this sympathetic technique (Nonceba Lubango 1991)

SATNA leadership together with the government joined forces to undertake a tour to address nurses on the subject of Trade unions. During this visits speakers warned Nurses that the political aura associated with unions was contrary to the spirit of Nursing (Searie 1965) (10 - incidentally this is still the believe today in the year 2000) what worried the government and SATNA leadership was the thought that Nurses might adopt a "trade union mentality" and might be persuaded to strike to improve their situation.

Following this the government gave 1943 Nursing Bill priority (Marks 1988). Origin 1988). The South African Act nO. 45 of 1944 followed. The South African Nursing Association (SANA) replaced SATNA. SANA was announced to be a compulsory body for all nurses with creation of SANA, BNA was effectively eliminated. Even at that time there were those who contested the achievements of the ACT "origins (1988) noted that Charlotte Searie, then the Director of Nursing in Transvaal and already a dominant figure in SANA and founder of SANC was explicit on the reasons.

She argued that non European Nurses, Bantu/Blacks" were only included on equal basis in the 1944 Act at the time there were very few of them and because the Nurses were assured by the Provincial authorities responsible for hospital services that the authorities did not intend training black nurses for full certificates.

NURSING STRIKES
SANA developed a highly bureaucratic structure that stifled progress within the organisation. Nurses continued to express their discontent in the form of strike despite SANA constraints.

Blacks Nurses working at the Alexandra clinic in Alexandra Township just outside Johannesburg went on strike in 1947. The Alexandra strike was prelude to others that followed.

In 1949, student Nurses at Victoria hospital Lovedale went on strike to protest the unfair dismissal of a nurse who had presented a petition of grievances to the hospital administration.

The kind of intimidation to which union minded Nurses were subjected was demonstrated in 1961 Nurses, strike at king George Tuberculosis hospital in Durban, the strike was called to protest an incident in which matrons of the Nurses, residence severely caned 12 students Nurses allegedly for arriving in class few minutes late. Skilled and unskilled hospital workers supported the nurse's demand for expulsion of matron.

With assistance from the local hospital workers union, the nurses made several demands.
They wanted the policy of unequal eating facilities abolished. The African Nurses were given lower quality meals, were required to bring their own eating utensils, and paid more than whites for then- boarding and lodging. They also demanded raises in their scandalously low salaries. They demanded extension of maternity leave to unmarried pregnant women in order to prevent fatal illegal abortions. They wanted UIF, they demanded and end to the degrading practice that required African employee to make a cross when collecting their paychecks, instead of signing for them. Finally they demanded that African (Black) Nurses to receive the same prophylactic treatment against TB that was given to all other employee (Luckaardt and wall, 1980).

The Nurses received support from local and international communities. Some of their demands were met, but the hospital superintendent refuse to fire the matron. 22 nurses were fired, and nurses were threatened with dismissal if they belong to a union. Nursing authorities argued that trade unions could not act on behalf of nurses as that was the duty of SANA. Yet it took a trade union to help nurses to improve condition of service.

INTERNATIONAL STRUGGLE

Internationally the struggle continued in 1946 the American Nurses Association established an economic security program for bargaining purposes. In England Royal College of Nursing is the professional association that won certification as independent trade union in 1977. British Nurses were also represented by trade unions that are affiliated with the trade union congress. According to Unison the struggle is been taken over by Unions such as Unison.

In Australia, Royal Australian Nursing Federal is affiliated with the Australian council of trade union.
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In South Africa the 1978 Nursing amended ACT (no 50) made strike action by nurses a statutory offense with fines of up to R500, 00 one year jail or both (warning 1983).

SEPARATE REGISTERS

The coming to power of National party in 1948 had a number of effects. On nursing black nurses had always been discriminated against for despite equal training, their salaries were far lower than those of whites and their training facilities were inferior. To foster apartheid 1957 Nursing Act of 1957 was passed separate registers were created for different ethnic groups namely Africans, Colored/Asians and whites black nurses were barred from holding office on central board of SANA (19 sutten, 1986). The pass system required blacks to carry at all times a "pass book" containing the person's identify and employment record. Failure to produce the "passbook" when requested by a police officer was a criminal offense.

Between 1955 and 1956 many Nurses joined the Women's league of ANC and the Federation of South African Women to fight "Pass Law" Protest meetings took place at many hospitals. At the meeting of non-white Nurses held in January 1955 at King Edward VIII hospital in Durban, tempers rose to such an extent that the police. Were called but women had quitted down the time the police arrived. The hospital superintendent than announced that the Nursing Council had informed him that all black Nurses who were not in possession of their identity numbers need not finance them' (South African Institute of Race Relation Survey, 1958-1959).

Now white nurses at Johannesburg's Baragwanath hospital also held protest meetings and announced that they would refuse to complete the forms the Federation of South African Women decide to support the Nurses and arrange a demonstration in support of Nurses.

The African townships were co-ordinated off from the hospital, roadblocks were setup. ANC Women's League and 500 Nurses organised a big demonstration at organises a big demonstration at Baragwanath hospital, where they met with hospital Matrons and explained the reasons for resisting the proposed legislation. The Matron wrote back to Nursing Council and the proposal was withdrawn for time being.

In 1978 Act provided for non-racial Nursing Council represent South African Citizens, this provision effectively excluded many registered African Nurses who, interms of S.A. Law were citizens of independent homelands. African Nurses actively opposed forced recognition into separate white Nurse's domination of SANA.

When these homeland nursing association were formed, the African Nurses who worked in the homelands or the so-called independent states received no financial assistance from SANA even though had been paying annual dues to this body for decades. Most Nurses paid the homeland association and the SANA for incase they need to work in S.A at some point.

In the 1980's the were many changes in spite of the legislation many nurses follow the waves of trade union activism. They joined union such as Black Health and Allied Workers union, the National Education and Allied Workers Union and Baragwanath workers union..

The question that remained unanswered is that do nurses need to be unionised, and to be poliicised Nurses, and especially Nurses leaders who regard political participation as alien to Nurses, and who regard politics and power to be incompatible to Nursing, sector and maintain a powerless nursing professional corps.

The government of National Unity has announced free health care for all mothers and children up to five years without consultation with those responsible for providing this health care-that, is Nurses and without adequate prior notification of health services nor the Nurses insisted on improved staffing of health facilities increased budgets and increased supplies of medicines. This "free health Services" whatever its merits in theory, might disempower and disillusions Nurses who are now called upon to render services to many more people, without the necessary staff, facilities, equipment, or drugs.

The only way, in which Nurses could prove their need for more staff, more equipment and more medicines would be to compile and present statistics of their workloads before and after this announcement was made. Unless Nurses can succeed in satisfactorily proving their increased workload, health-care planners will continue to assume that the services cope with the available facilities and equipment Nurses also need to communicate these statistics to positions and other decision makers.

Since politicians determine health care policies allocate health care budgets and decide where and when health care facilities will be expanded, they influence the health care system both directly and indirectly.

IN CONCLUSION

It is very important to develop new curriculum of training Nurses, the paradigm shift should focus, on content base education, in addition the Curriculum should cover politics and, also develop all-rounder Cadre, who might be able to fit in all spheres in life, to be orientated in all comers of life.

The broad aim of operation 4000 was to recruit professionals amongst those professionals to be organised Nurses cover a very big number NEHAWU has a serious challenges to develop Nurses and recruit more into the organisation.

NOTES

CAPE TOWN June 18 1997 - SAPA

APARTHEID NURSES APOLOGISE FOR UNDERMINING HUMAN RIGHTS

The now defunct South African Nursing Council - the regulatory body for the nursing profession under apartheid - on Wednesday apologised unreservedly for undermining human rights "from time to time".

In a submission to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing in Cape Town, the SANC also proposed that appropriate reparation be made to victims of council violations. It did not elaborate.

Disgracefully, the British Royal College of Nursing (RCN) continued to foster close links with the 'Whites only" nursing union until the end of Apartheid. COHSE. NUPE and NALGO had impeccable records in opposing Apartheid South Africa

200 Nurses sacked in South Africa 1961

200 African Nurses Told To Leave Union or Be Sacked

September 1961 COHSE: the health care union Journal report

THE South African Congress of Trade Unions reports that 200 nurses at King George V Hospital, Durban, have been given an ultimatum to resign from the Hospital Workers Union, a non-white body, or be dismissed.

Previously 20 nurses were sacked following a strike and meal boycott by African, Indian and coloured nurses at the hospital, in protest against the caning of nurses and very low wages (an African nurse receives about £12 a month, plus board and lodging; a labourer receives as little as £5 a month).

In the middle of July the Hospital Workers' Union, an affiliate of S.A.C.T.U., submitted a memorandum to the hospital authorities asking for increased wages and improved conditions of work. The demands ranged from £1 to £1 10s. a day increased wages; maternity allowance; unemployment pay; workmen's compensation; infectious disease allowance; 3 weeks' annual leave; improved food; shorter hours of work; recognition of the Union. (The demands varied according to the different categories of employees, staff nurses, maids, nurses, clerical workers, cooks, labourers, and so on.)

African nurses and labourers at the hospital decided to boycott food supplied to them on August 5, after the caning of 11 African nurses by a white sister-tutor because they were "not too bright at classes". The hospital was brought to a standstill when the African nurses marched to the superintendent demanding the expulsion of the sister-tutor and calling on him to investigate their grievances.

They were joined by Coloured and Indian nurses and all the non-white staff : labourers, clerical workers, cooks etc. The demonstration lasted about 8 hours, during which time hundreds of police were called out. the chief of police addressed the workers but was unable to persuade them to return to work.

The superintendent at last arrived, and after a great deal of argument agreed to investigate their grievances. He stated that he was not prepared to negotiate with the Union. The workers then returned to work, but the nurses living in the hospital started a boycott of their food and decided to continue this until their demands are met, food being supplied by sympathisers.

A second demonstration took place 10 days later when some 300 non-white nurses marched to the superintendent's office to demand the transfer of the sister-tutor from the nurses' home. Before this march took place, uniformed police patrolled all wards at the hospital and an armed contingent of police in a riot van was outside the hospital. The superintendent refused to see the nurses, and all the demands of the workers have been rejected on the grounds that they are "politically inspired".

The nurses are continuing the struggle. They ask for protests to be sent to the hospital authorities and for support for their demands, and also for donations. The address of the Hospital Workers' Union is 311 Lakhani Chambers, 2 Saville Street, Durban, South AfricaA. The Union will pass on all protests received.

It Should be noted that during this period the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) maintained links with the Whites only nursing union in South Africa

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CANED AFRICAN NURSES PROTEST

Sir—The following is a copy of a letter I sent to the Superintendent of King George V Hospital, Durban, South Africa, on November 16, 1961, after reading an account of events at the hospital in your Journal:

Sir—The P.S.I, is an international federation of trade unions and professional associations of civil servants and public employees, including nurses and other hospital workers. Its affiliated organisations number 75 and 37 countries throughout the Western world. The total membership is 2.4 million.

In the Journal of the British Confederation of Health Service Employees (issue of September/October 1961) I read an amazing and shocking story of the caning of nurses followed by a naturally justified rebellion by well nigh the whole staff of your hospital and by the irruption of the police into the hospital. This appears to be about the ugliest incident that, together with many others, illustrates the thoroughly bad relations between an employing authority and its workers. The relationship appears to be characterised by intimidation against organising in trade unions and the refusal to grant fair conditions of employment.

Words are inadequate to express the indignation that such action arouses in all people who value human rights and human dignity. I know that Apartheid interferes with the normal functioning of civilised life and I can visualise that in some instances employers lack the independence or the courage to resist a damnable policy imposed on them from above.

However, the administrator of a hospital is in a position- that enables him to wield authority and power in accordance with the dictates of conscience, even in opposition to higher authorities whom racial prejudice has made unreasonable.

The incidents of August 5 and 16 last provided copy for an unseemly page in the professional journals of nurses and hospital workers. It is in your power. Sir, to redress a bad situation and to enable the editors of those journals to report on something good and hopeful coming out of South Africa by virtue of your own action. I appeal to you to use your power to that effect.

P. TOFAHRN,

PIC

(Picture Nurses protest apartheid and the segregation of their profession, South Africa, 1958)

COHSE banner on Anti Apartheid demonstartion early 1980's

COHSE