22 September 1982

Wednesday 22 September 1982 was one of the largest acts of solidarity in the British trade union history, with millions on strike and a national rally in London with 120,000 taking part. There were demonstrations in the following towns (not full list)

Aberdeen 12,000

Inverness 1,000

Elgin 500

Lerwick 400

Oban 100

Stornaway 500

Dundee 10,000

Edinburgh 10,000

Kirkcaldy 2,000

Glasgow 20,000

Dumfries 1,000

Newcastle 5,000

York 1,000

Sheffield 10,000

Barnsley 1,000

Leeds 6,000

Hull 4,000

Chesterfield 3,000

Manchester 2,000

St Helens 2,000

Liverpool 20,000

Bolton 2,000

Blackpool 400

Wigan 5,000

Leek 300

Coventry 2,000

Gloucester 500

Hereford 400

Swindon 1,000

Milton Keynes 1,200

Cambridge 2,000

Colchester 1,000

Braintree 100

Norwich 2,000

Kings Lynn 300

Harleston 500

Fakenham 100

Southampton 1,500

Bournemouth 1,000

Eastbourne 500

Yeovil 1,000

Belfast 3,000

Derry 3,000

Armagh 300

Ballymena 200

Enniskillen 350

Swansea 1,000

Aberystwyth 200

Rhondda 500

also many rallies/marches in London ie Hackney, Hillingdon

Thornton View Hospital Occupation

FORTRESS THORNTON

THE THORNTON VIEW HOSPITAL OCCUPATION

The occupation (Work-in) of Thornton View geriatric hospital, Bradford, began over a year ago, on 5 August 1983. During the NHS debate at this year's Labour party conference nurses and supporters of the occupation draped a banner from the gallery proclaiming, "Save Our Hospitals". This action lead the chair, Eric Heffer, to observe, "I hope the state does not move against them as it has against the workers at Cammell Laird".

Labour Research examines the background to this long running occupation.

Thornton view Hospital is an 82 bed long stay geriatric hospital located near the village of Clayton, just outside Bradford. In the past few years it has had wanted to save £700,000 by shutting down two hospitals, one of which was Thornton View. During the year long campaign, prior to the occupation, the substantial amounts of money spent on it by Bradford DHA. For most of the elderly patients at the hospital it is their home. Aged 65 to 95 years they have been at Thornton View on average for 7 years. 

Bradford DHA had many letters of protest sent, a petition of 30,000 including 55 GP's and the support of the Tory, Liberal and Labour groups on the District Council together with lobbies and demonstrations — all to no avail.

So at 8.30pm on Friday night 5 August 1983 a bold, and well planned, occupation began, made official by both NUPE and COHSE within the first week.

Whilst the main purpose of the occupation was to protect the rights of elderly people with no power (studies have shown that within 6 months of the closure of St. Benedict's geriatric hospital (after an occupation by staff) in South London some 30% of the patients had died), the fight was also to save 95 NHS jobs. As COHSE steward Betty Elie stressed, "We're not stupid, we know that once this hospital closes we don't stand a chance of getting new jobs".

WORKERS CONTROL

 

As long as there are patients in the hospital legally workers legally workers cannot be locked out or lose pay during occupation of NHS premises. Thornton View is the only hospital occupation to exclude management. The occupation committee of nurses, domestics, porters, local GP's, relatives, other trade unionists and members of the local community joined together to organise every aspect of the struggle at Thornton View Hospital.

They have upturned the management structure by running the hospital themselves. Most importantly, it has forced a political consciousness on the Bradford Community Health Council, and the District Health Authority who refuse to accept that whilst willingly acting as agent of the government they are also being political.

 

It is now 20 months since the Health Authority decided to close Thornton View, and they still have not been able to implement that decision, despite the announcement on 11 April 1984 of the minister's decision to approve the closure. That in itself is a major achievement.

HELP

Because the patients are elderly the numbers are slowly dwindling (current number of beds occupied 45), there is a feeling that management are playing a waiting game and will use this as an excuse to close the hospital.

But the occupation is not defeated and the 17 August 1984 Occupation Bulletin (entitled Thornton View Forever) ends "On now to our 2nd Birthday folks". Money and messages of support to: Thornton View Hospital, c/o The Occupation, Clayton, Bradford.

LETTER TO SUPPORTERS

ALL GMC DELEGATES, WARD SECRETARIES, LABOUR COUNCILLORS - BRADFORD WEST. (1983)

URGENT: THORNTON VIEW HOSPITAL WORK-IN
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.

As you are probably aware by now on Friday 5th August 1983 the staff at Thornton View Hospital beg a work-in to prevent the closure of this 82-bed geriatric hospital.

Because this is a work-in , it is VITAL that supporters from the local community take an active role in helping the staff "man" the picket-lines the staff cannot be

expected to work their normal hours (which are often very long as well as very exhausting), fulfill their family needs(most of the staff are women, several are single parents) AND ,then, Without outside help run four picket-lines

Bradford West Labour Party has held an emergency executive, at Thornton View and we are urging all are members as a matter of the utmost urgency to help on the picket-lines; the pink leaflet enclosed gives more details on this, as well as a contact phone-number.

We also decided:

(a)To ask all our members to support the demonstration on I0th September (leaflets enclosed) and to get signatures for the petition (copy enclosed)

(b) to donate £20 from the Constituency to Thornton View.

(c) ask ward secretaries, and trade union officials on g.m.c. to:

(i) contact their membership, where possible by phone, and inform them of the work-in and the vital need for their active support.,

(ii) arrange for financial donations, messages of support, etc. If you would like a speaker at the branch meeting the Occupation Committee will be only too

delighted to send one for this and any other information you require phone 882007 Extension 47

(iii) if possible, arrange a block booking i.e. a day and a time when you

can guarantee, and transport up to the picket-line 4/5/6 or more of your members on a regular basis.

At the moment University ward is taking Wednesday 6.45 pm. till 10 pm, 0dsal is doing Saturday 8 till 6 (a.m. to p.m.),Queensbury Tuesday 8 till 12 p.m., and Wibsey Thursday 8 till 12 pm. We realise that, practically ,its easier for block bookings to be in the evenings - the earlier the better i.e, 6 or 6.45 rather than 8.

THE OCCUPATION IS LIKELY TO GO ON FOR ANYTHING UPWARDS OF FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS: IT IS VITAL TO DRAW IN AS MANY PARTY MEMBERS(AND OTHERS!) AS POSSIBLE TO DO PICKET DUTY, EVEN IF ONLY FOR TWO, THREE OR FOUR HOURS A WEEK

The Tories are going to cut the health services to shreds - if we let them.

The Thornton View Occupation is the first major attempt to fight back since the General Election. Your active support is vital - please make every effort to support us.

Yours Fraternally

Reuben Goldberg (p.p. Lester Hall & Bradford West Executive.)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Phone 882 007 Ext. 47

CORRESPONDENCE : THORNTON VIEW OCCUPATION COMMITTEE, c/o. The Resource Centre, 93, Little Horton Lane, Bradford BD 5

Note

Undoubtedly the key local person in Bradford to campaign and secure the logistical support for the Occupation of Thornton View Hospital was Alex Corina, Betty Elie COHSE Hazel Ward NUPE Nursing staff at Thornton View Hospital, Bradford.

Management should have been suspicious prior to the Occupation, as when nurses showed Alex Corina and Andrea C around the hospital they signed in the visitors book not only under pseudonyms but also with job titles that referred to "occupational health"

The first job of the occupation committee was to evict the Nursing Officer and examine the (confiscate) the files on the union in her office and make her office the occupation headquarters

The occupation prior and during the occupation always secured the support of the patients relatives

As with other hospital occupations their was always a number of pickets sleeping in

The picket was actually on the front gate halfway down the lane in a very cold and exposed site

The occupational finally ended in April 1985 - 21 months occupation

Workhouse Dance at gun point

Made A Prisoner

Bawnboy Workhouse Master

Sinn Feinners Sunday dance The Bawnboy Sinn Fein Club showed its power on Sunday evening, when a body of men proceeded to the Workhouse in the village, and having made a prisoner of the Workhouse Master, held a dance in the boys schoolroom in the institution, contrary to a notice already given that the dance would not be permitted.

It appears that at a meeting of the Guardians held on the 8th inst, it was decided that permission be given to the local Sinn Feiners for the entertainment.

The decision of the Guardians having being communicated to the Local Government Board, the latter body wrote to the clerk of the Guardians was illegal and threatened an injunction in the superior courts.

The Master of the Workhouse, hearing this at once communicated with the secretary of the local Sinn Fein Club, stating that the dance would not be permitted.

Despite this an advance guard of the Republicans made their way to the office of the Master Mr P. McTeigue and imprisoned him there until the crowds for the dance, which numbered over 200 had assembled and taken possession of the boys schoolroom, when the prisoner was released

Tyrone Impartial Reporter 18th October 1917

NOTE

At Strabane Workhouse in February 1922.
Five or six masked (IRA) men entered the Workhouse and set fire to it in order to stop the local Dorset Regiment occupying it.

8 Hour Day - Nurses 1920

15 May 1920
--
EIGHT HOURS’ DAY IN DUBLIN.

The Corporation of Dublin, which makes grants to various hospitals in the city, has decided to make such grants conditional upon the establishment of an eight hours’day for nurses.

In this connection several medical contemporaries take exception to this decision on the ground that in the case of a nurse work and duty are not co-extensive, though no doubt she is liable to answer a bell or call at any moment.”

That may be the case with private nurses, but we have yet to meet the hospital nurse who spends “ much of her time on duty sitting down,” There is a very wrong conception prevalent of the way in which hospital nurses work, It is usually at full

Carles Martinez - Historty of UNISON/COHSE SW Surrey

Gratitude paid to retiring union leader

HEALTH Care workers across South West Surrey have paid a fitting farewell to a retiring union leader whose 30 year tenure as UNISON branch secretary is believed to be unrivalled in British trade union history.

Carles Martinez has been branch secretary of local health care workers UNISON since 1977 as well as its predecessor known as the COHSE, Confederation of Health Service Employees, a landmark which prompted a special thank you from the Prime Minister.

Martinez was presented with a framed letter from the Prime Minister at the gathering at the Mandolay Hotel in Guildford on Wednesday 14th November 2007 which recorded his personnel thanks and that of Labour movement for his efforts on behalf of members and the NHS. The event was also an opportunity to receive plaudits from a number of his colleagues and associates who have worked with him over the years.


“Under Carles Martinez’s leadership the union had became a formidable force for good, a key partner in delivering first class health care services locally , and a branch that delivered for its members,” said UNISON regional officer Michael Walker. “The membership of this union and the community we serve owe him a great debt of gratitude.

“He was never afraid to speak his mind on behalf of union members and challenge the prevailing attitudes, championing equality and opportunity for all staff.”

Martinez was born in 1939 in Barcelona and was educated at the Eccole Francaise. He fled Franco's dictatorship for London in December 1963. He contracted TB and was sent to King George V Sanatorium, Hydestile, where he later secured a job in 1964, later moving to Guildford’s Royal Surrey County Hospital took over the branch secretaryship from Les Bennett who had in turn been branch secretary since 1948.

Mr Leslie Bennett of Hascombe was born at Nursecombe in 1920 and worked at St Thomas's hospital, Milford as an Assistant Bath Attendant, he was for many years a Hascombe parish councillor.

The previous Branch Secretary was Harry Stock a Bath Attendant at St Thomas's. Milford, who was the founding Branch Secretary of the union then known as the Hospital & Welfare Services Union from it's inauguration with seven members in July 1943 until Les Bennett took over in 1948. When Harry Stock returned to London. Don Donnellon a pioneering theatre technician was also key in establishing the union at St Thomas's Hospital, Milford

This unique partnership of two branch sectaries since the establishment of the NHS is believed to be unrivalled in British trade union history.

The Surrey union had been originally established by staff from St Thomas’s hospital, London when they were evacuated after the German Luftwaffe had destroyed much of St Thomas’s in September 1940.


One of Les Bennetts first acts as branch secretary was to highlight the plight of student nurses at Hydestile who in 1948 were forced after long shifts to pick onions at 1s 5d an hour for a local market gardener because there pay was insufficient to pay train fare home to London .

Carles Martinez was initially elected Branch Chairman in March 1968 and in 1977 Branch Secretary. During the 30 years, Martinez has built it up to be one of the largest branches with 3,000 members who work in the “acute” sector (over 75% of whom were nursing staff) and has never faced a challenge for his position as secretary.

He has worked and campaigned with politicians of all political persuasions throughout the years to ensure that his members and the interest of local NHS were best realised, illustrated most recently during the campaign to save the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

“Carles Martinez had built a reputation not only locally but nationally for the wholehearted commitment he had shown to his members interests and to the that of our National Health Service,” said UNISON assistant general secretary, Bob Abberley. “The branch had been very fortunate to have a man of such high calibre at the helm for the last 30 years and he will be greatly missed by all who know him, but we can assure him that the foundations he has laid will continue to be built upon.


At the end of the evening Mr Martinez thanked his many friends, particularly Les Bennett and thanked his wife Tatjanana, until recently a senior sister at RSCH for her continued support.

Addition to Surrey Advertiser Article

Left Wing Medical Journals

Medicine Today & Tomorrow,

The only political medical journal in Britain

linked to Socialist Health Association

first published January 1952

Issued bi-monthly price 9d first published

other publications included the Communist Parties "Marxists in Medicine" based at 27 Pearman Street, London SE1

John Kelly-Chandler

JOHN KELLY-CHANDLER


John Edward Kelly-Chandler, Regional Organiser, died in service on Tuesday 9 October 2007.




John was a Regional Organiser in the Greater London Region since 1991 covering health and local government branches. In recent years he has had responsibility for the South East London Health branches.

John was diagnosed with lung cancer a year ago and had been receiving treatment during the past 12 months. Despite gruelling treatment he managed to maintain a positive and courageous attitude throughout. He was on holiday in his favourite place in Italy when he passed away.

Prior to working for UNISON, John's working life spanned numerous occupations from flour milling to merchant marine, from baker to selling cosmetics, from shoe salesman to the Elecricity Generating Board

John was a leading lay activist in NALGO’s electricity section, a Shop Steward at West ham Power Station, He rose to become the secretary of the CEGB Headquarters branch and took a leading role in the FUSE campaign against the privatisation of the electricity industry. He was elected to NALGO’s National Electricity Committee, eventually becoming its Chair and was also a member of NALGO’s NEC.

He lead his union colleagues through the convulsions of privatisation and attempts to build solidarity at the CEGB for the Miners in the great 1984-1985 dispute.

In 1991 John was appointed as a union (NALGO) regional officer, a position he held until his death.

Born in Hastings on the 11th November 1947, adopted by Hartlepool (becoming a staunch Hartlepool United FC Fan) lifelong resident of London, latterly Charlton.

Buried in his beloved Ravello, Italy.A memorial service was held at Caxton Hall, London to celebrate his life on Saturday 10th November 2007 at which the regional head of health for London Chris Remmington stated
"John's politic's was very simple, unsophisticated and non-sectarian.
Members first,
build the union,
always recognise that the future belongs to the next generation - so don't get in the way - build gateways not obstacles,no false labels of left and right, at the close of each day be clear that an advance has occurred in the ideas of progress, of collective strength, of humanity, of unity."


John was a much respected and loved member of the regional staff and will be missed by all who knew and worked with him.

NHS Rally 3 November 2007

NHS Rally, London, 3 November 2007













March from Embankment to Trafalgar Square

Carles, Duncan from SW Surrey and John Gray from Tower Hamlets helping out with St George's Hospital Banner

The Sackers Charter 1982

UNION ATTACKS USE OF MEMO
Stephen Halpern (Health Service Journal)

Senior trade union officials have accused 'maverick managers' in the NHS of using the DHSS (Department of Health & Social Security) memo to regional personnel officers on managers and union activity as a justification for clamping down on trade union officials.

The accusations were made by Nupe officials at a press conference held to explain the union's position on the dismissal of deputy head porter Conway Xavier, from Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Last week Mr Xavier's appeal to the hospital Board of Governors was dismissed. A planned picket at the hospital on the day of the appeal was cancelled by the union because of lack of support.

Mr Xavier was dismissed for neglect of essential duties', unauthorised absences from duty, disregard for his management responsibilities and failure to 'behave with commitment or loyalty to local management'.

Nupe claims that his dismissal was the result of a campaign of victimisation against Mr Xavier and that tills is being extended to other union officials at Great Ormond Street and associated hospitals.

At the press conference Nupe divisional officer. Harry Barker, said he was 'worried about the repercussions of the memo.

He added that the memo was without doubt the background to Mr Xavier's case.

He also claimed that health service managers didn't support the use of the memo and also the way in which Mr Xavier's case was handled.

"We are conscious that many senior administrators in London are concerned at the way the management handled the situation", he said.

Mr Barker and other Nupe officials said that although most NHS managers didn't feel the need for guidance to deal with conflict of loyalty between management and trade union responsibility some 'maverick managers' were using the memo to deal with trade union activity.

The Hospital Administrator at Great Ormond Street, Austin Lythe, strenuously denied the memo had in any way been never ' been any conflict of the memo had in any way been connected with Mr Xavier's case.

He said there was no victimisation campaign against trade union officials at the hospital and he hadn't even heard of the memo until after the question of Mr Xaviers conduct was being considered

Mr Lythe said there was no reason why industrial relations at the hospital shouldn't be excellent. He hoped that the hospital would be able to get on with its job of looking after sick children.

While Nupe's accusations against the management of Great Ormond Street are not supported, their claim that most managers do not feel the need for central support and guidance is accurate.

Regional personnel officers are believed to have told the DHSS that guidance was unnecessary and this view is backed by Martin Beardwell, chairman of the National Association of Health Service Personnel Officers, who told the Journal:

'The NHS has years of experience of trade union within the management structure. theres never been sny conflict of interest that cant be coped with Most personnel officers in the NHS are members of a trade union and never have any difficulty negotiating with members of their own union" he added

Mr Beardwell described the type of guidance referred to in the memo' as 'quite superfluous'.

Since the existence of the memo was first publicly revealed by the Journal on 12 December, it has caused a storm of controversy in several areas, with the exception of NHS managers for whom it was meant.

Shadow health spokesman, Gwynneth Dunwoody. has raised the matter in Parliament and Secretary of State, Patrick Jenkin, has said he refuses to withdraw it.

The memo has also caused a storm at COHSE, where the assistant press secretary, Chris Perry, left his job in protest at the union's response to the memo, General secretary, Albert Spanswick, decided to protest privately to Patrick Jenkin rather than making the matterpublic.

NOTE:
circa 1982-83

The "Sackers Charter" as the memo was referred to was the result of some managerial staff such as those in South West London who became involved with the campaign to save st Benedict's Hospital.

Two COHSE officers were suspended over the alleged leaking of the "Sackers Charter" to the press

see also articles in Daily Mirror and Hospital worker

Conway Xavier was a prominent Afro-Caribbean NUPE health activists member of the Communist Party but later joined the NCP

Britannia Hospital (1982)

Britannia Hospital
Film Review
by TONY VENTHAM COHSE Shop Steward, Willesden Ambulance Station, London Ambulance Service

Britannia hospital, the new film from Lindsay Anderson who made "If", is a satirical attack on the society of the 1980s.

It is set in a decaying hospital which is due to receive a royal visit. Outside is a picket of hospital workers, shown by the film as completely callous.

Inside the star attraction is a research centre, in which a mad professor is attempting, Frankenstein like, to build a new human being. When the royal visit finally takes place, the mob outside erupts, the Special patrol group (Riot Police) are brought in and everything seems set for a violent final scene as in "if" But the battle between the classes is suddenly ended by the intervention of the professor.


He Invites the demonstrators to sit beside royalty In his lecture theatre. In a brilliant speech he outlines the way in which capitalist society is falling apart and presents his new human being as the solution.

The film leaves you with a mixture of emotions, more quest ions than answers, wondering how much of it was serious and how much a wind up.

The film echoes the demoralisation and increasing bitterness of Thatcher's Britain. Poverty Is contrasted with the wealth of the professor's research centre, funded by a Japanese pharmaceutical company.

The media are characterised by an investigative reporting team who get stoned on magic mushrooms while watching in awe and wild laughter scenes from Vietnam and the Brixton riots. The bourgeoisie are portrayed by the hospital administrator, who becomes increasingly desperate and, in the end, is prepared to kill to protect what he holds dear. The outcome is unclear.

Does the new technology of the research centre reconcile the class antagonism? Or does It merely make the dream of a socialist future practical? Anderson was one of the Angry Young Men of the British cinema in the mid 1950s, sparking a revolution akin to that of John Osborne, George Devine and others in the theatre.

Has he now become as bitter and twisted as Osborne? Or is he, as puts it, simply 'a satirist' and a 'frustrated romantic'? The fact that the film has been hyped to the hilt by EMI and pushed on to general release with almost frantic haste begs a question. Is it a coincidence that a film showing hospital pickets as inhuman and animal-like should be promoted in the middle of the NHS pay dispute?

You must decide if it is worth seeing.

NOTE


Britannia Hospital, was a viciously anti union film as Anderson has had admitted.

The Film is actually based upon events during the anti private patient campaign at Hammersmith hospital and Charring Cross and the respective NUPE and COHSE branch Secretaries (Jamie Fleming and Ester Brookstone) .

The truth was that low paid ancillary staff in these teaching hospitals had been treated as the lowest of the low by the Consultants and medical staff for years, by the late 1970's they had had enough and hitting the Consultants private patients was one way of getting back at them and securing some dignity (as well as making a point about equal access to health care).

The Hospital Consultants fought any attack on their lucrative private work with all the power they could muster, and smashed those involved in the anti private patients campaign, by lobbying at the highest government levels and regular denouncing the unions in the right wing press, There actions would ultimately lead to the contracting out (privatisation) of many ancillary services 1980s (and the filthy wards we have today)

Tony Ventham was then the acceptable face of the SWP in COHSE and generally well respected, but probably like the rest of us underestimated the anti union message of this film. Tony later became a lawyer.

Kick Over The Statues

WE REPORT THE LONG OVER DUE DEATH OF
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

All over Eastern Europe statues of Lenin are being taken off their pedestals (1999), dismantled and hauled off to be cut up. It is in the same vein that the nursing profession must, as we enter the new millennium, start to exorcise the myth of Florence Nightingale.

Not necessarily because Florence Nightingale was a very bad person, but because the impact of her legacy or more correctly the interpretation of that legacy has held the nursing profession back too long.

The Nightingale myth had from it’s earliest days been appropriated by the nursing hierarchy and the founders of the Royal College of Nursing who colluded with them, to use it to sell any vocational, self sacrificing ideal required for the good of the service and not the good of nursing.

As a result of the Nightingale myth, the leadership of nursing in Britain for the best part of this century has stressed "vocation" and subordination to the medical profession and cast nursing as somehow non political. We cannot progress until we break from the yoke of the Nightingale myth.

We must ask ourselves as nurses why it is that the medical professional still dominates health care. Why very few nurses are in the political arena (it is only with the 1997 General Election that we have had nurses elected to parliament). And why nursing trade unionism has not made more of an impact. A consequence of these failings has been that nurses remain professionally impotent and nurses pay lags behind that of other "organised" professions in the UK and nurses pay in other western nations.

The failure of British nursing to meet its potential, I would contend, is the ever present Florence Nightingale, whose views, whether based on myths or reality, has stopped nursing from progressing into a profession in its own right.

What is clear, is that the British establishment sought from the very origins of modern nursing to sanitise nursing, and ensure that its heroine would be acceptable: a white, English, middle class, protestant women. Florence Nightingale fulfilled this role admirably, unlike Irish catholic nurses such as Joanna Bridgeman and Jamaican nurses like Mary Seacole who made an equally important contribution to nursing during the Crimea War. Neither of these has been officially credited for their efforts.

It was Joanna Bridgeman who developed the system of nursing and management that Florence Nightinglae adopted, while the efforts of the black Jamaican nurse Mary Seacole in the Crimea were cold shouldered. What is equally interesting to note is that it was probably the Quaker, Elizabeth Fry, who has greatest claim to the title founder of modern nursing with her pioneering work at St John's hospital by her Institution of Nursing Sisters, a number of years before Florence Nightingale embarked upon her endeavours. So maybe international nurse’s day should be celebrated on her birthday, the 21^st May.

Once the Nightingale myth and her status as a Saint had been confirmed by the British establishment, Florence Nightingale set about turning out her robotic acolytes from the St Thomas School of Nursing from 1860 onwards, soon capturing the role of matrons in most major hospitals.

Ehrenreich & English encapsulated this well in following quote:

‘Training emphasised character, not skills. The finished product, the Nightingale nurse, was simply the ideal lady …absolved of reproductive responsibilities. To the doctor, she brought the wifely virtue of absolute obedience. To the patient, she brought the selfless devotion of a mother. To the lower level hospital employees, she brought the firm but kindly discipline of a household manager accustomed to dealing with servants’.

Abel-Smith sates:

"The power (of matrons) was reinforced by the para-military organisation of the nursing staff and the rigid discipline imposed in the training schools. As Miss Nightingale said rather ominously "No good ever comes of anyone interfering between the head of nursing establishment and her nurses. It is fatal to discipline". The control of the matrons over her nurses was to play a crucial role in future attempts to enrol nurses in professional organisations or trade unions".

No wonder Ann Widdecombe (supported by Christine Hancock) called for the return of the Matron at last year’s Tory party conference.

Florence Nightingale supported the subordinate role of nurses to doctors, opposed registration of nurses, three year training of nurses, did not see mental health nurses as part of nursing, and had questionable success at her hospital in the Crimea, she also turned her back on the fine history of lay women healers, not to mention her opposition to women speaking in public..

Nurses are increasingly beginning to challenge the Nightingale myth. Today’s nurses, especially our UNISON nursing students are much more questioning, much more involved in campaigning and much more willing to stand up for their rights and pushing the bounderies of our professional role. This development can only be a good thing as nursing enters the new millennium.

Nurses of the world unite you have nothing to lose but your chains

By Michael Walker UNISON Nursing student Officer and Wendy Wheeler RGN RHV

References

Chris Hart Behind the mask

Jane Salvage the politics of Nursing

Barbara Ehrenreich & Deirdre English Witches, Midwives & Nurses

B.Abel Smith A history of the nursing profession

Katherine Williams Sarah Gamp to Florence Nightingale - Rewriting Nursing History

It (nursing) started from a Quaker lady whose name has hitherto been almost exclusively claimed by prisoners, but she (Elizabeth Fry) must now be accepted as the founder of sick nursing BMA Journal 19 June 1897

By Michael Walker & Wendy Wheeler 1999 (Nursing Times)

see also UNISON Health Conference debate 1999

Moez Montani - COHSE Central Middx Hospital - Brent

Moez Montani - Brent

Region 6 mourns the death of a true friend and colleague, Moez Motani, at the age of 30 years. He had been Secretary of Brent COHSE Branch for the past 11 years. Moez was an ardent fighter against privatisation in the Brent district and his efforts, together with others, have prevented, so far, privatisation of ancillary services in that district. He always campaigned actively to prevent the closure of hospitals in the district, for example Neasden.

He enlisted the support of the residents of Brent, the community health council, and Brent Health Emergency in the fight to prevent cuts in local health services. He had suffered from birth with Thalassaemia, a terminal disease, and also he was in constant pain and required frequent hospitalisation, but he continued to fulfill his role as an active COHSE Branch Secretary, always defending the interests of his members.

He was honoured by the Region in January 1985 by being awarded the Harry Short gold badge, which is presented for outstanding achievement. His courage and determination was an example to us all and he will be sadly missed.

(Tribute by Ernest A. Brooke, Regional Secretary, North West Thames and Oxford Region)

Moez was a good man, good COHSE Branch Secretary a hospital technician at Central Middlesex , a Muslim from Indonesia

1982 Coventry - London 12% Bike Ride

By JIM SAUNDERS

health workers are biking to downing street as part of the action week, starting today 40 Coventry health service workers will carry their protest against the government's pay policy by bike to London.

They will leave Coventry today, calling en route at Banbury, Oxford, Hillingdon and arrive in Central London midday Friday.

Among the bike's are six tandems. The riders include nurses, ancillary and maintenance wor-
kers as well as professional and technical- staff drawn from Coventry's hospitals.

They will deliver a petition to No. 10 Downing Street and present a bill for £325,000 to Health Minister Norman Fowler.

This is the amount the Coventry District Health Authority would have rto find to meet the government's health service wage formula. It has already overspent on its budget.

"The truth is," says Lloyd Randall, secretary of the NUPE hospitals branch in the city,
"there is not a 6 per cent offer.

It is just 4 per cent and an offer to cannibalise the service to meet the other 2 per cent."

PICKET LINES

In addition to being divisive. the Tory government tactics will also mean the loss of up to 80
jobs in the city's hospitals.

The bikers will link up with local health service co-ordinating committees on their journey.
They are offerins to join picket lines at hospitals and speak at meetings. But they also hope
that other trade unionists will turn out in force to greet them.

They will be joined in London bv strikers whose seven week action has reduced the central sterile supplies depot to emergency only.

Nurses at the outpatients department oi the Coventry and Warwick Hospital, as well as
maintenance and boilerhouse workers in Walsgrave and other hospitals also plan to impose
sanctions in the coming week.

A meeting in Birmingham ot local health service union co- ordinating committees support-
ed calls from Coventry for the TUC to sharpen up the action on health service pay.

AN ULTIMATUM

A resolution adopted "calls on the TUC health service committee to support a call for an ultimatum for an all-out strike from September 1 by all TUC health service unions, if an im-
proved offer is not made or if the dispute is not referred to arbitration."

Another resolution urges the TUC not to accept any offer which is not fully funded by central government. To do so, it says, would mean accepting cuts in the service.

There is; also a strong feeling that local co-ordinating committees should have more discretion over implementing accident and emergency cover. The TUC's code of conduct is seen as being so wide as to be ineffective in some areas.

There is a call for a review and a tightening up of the TUC's emergency cover procdures.

Islands in the Sun 1982

Islands in the Sun

Outside Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) permanent COHSE picket during the 1982 pay campaign.

The island later acquired a Palm tree and the 10mph sign became 12%

Co-ordinated by Carles, Lesley, Graham and Michael

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 Irish man. 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.

Nic Cicutti

Branch Secretary reinstated

A COHSE Branch Secretary whose dismissal caused concern at COHSE Conference in June that he had been victimised for taking part in the NHS pay campaign, has qot his job back.

Nic Cicutti, secretary of Essex Hall Branch in Colchester, was reinstated as a second-year student nurse at the mental handicap hospital after an internal appeal.

Now Nic says he owes his job to the many COHSE members and officers who gave their support
particularly Regional Secretary Keith Taylor, who represented him at the appeal in late 1982.

Nic then a prominent member of the Socialist Workers Party, Hospital worker now a high profile journalist i believe,

Nic states I worked for 15 years at The Independent, the Financial Times and as a freelance. In a previous life I trained as a nurse and worked in the NHS for almost seven years. Before that I washed dishes and was a school cleaner