Saturday, October 27, 2012

COHSE & The Miners

The recent revelation that Police colluded to ensure the prosecution and jailing of miners during the 1984-85 miners strike, comes as no surprise to those active at the time.

The only surprise is that it has been revealed in our lifetime, a fact only due to the tireless efforts of the Hillsborough campaign for justice, which highlighted the establishments successful attempts to hide the truth of what really happened to 96 innocent Liverpool supporters killed at Hillsborough on 15th April 1989

Not only were the 96 football fans who died, defamed but the Tories and their establishment friends attempted to vilify the whole City of Liverpool, that rallied to support the families.

The Hillsborough Inquiry, highlighted establishment collusion and police collusion at the highest levels and it soon became evident that the same tactics used to marginalise the Hillsborough families, had also been used extensively during the miners strike.

During the Miners strike 11,291 people were arrested, of whom 8,392 were charged, we now know many of those charged were totally innocent.

COHSE activists at the time feared that the sequestration and imprisoning of miners was simply an attempt by the establishment to smash a democratic and free trade union in Britain.

COHSE had always had a strong bond of friendship towards the miners and a "debt of gratitude" had grown over many years, not least because the miners had often taken action in support of nurses and NHS staffs pay and they campaigner alongside us to defend hospitals from closure.

So it was that a "middle of the road" union like COHSE would play a critical role in ensuring, that to the surprise of Neil Kinnock and Labour Party apparatchiks a resolution at the October 1985 Labour Party conference was carried calling for a future Labour Government to investigate the jailing of miners and a full scale amnesty.

The Labour Party leadership were sure of victory so it was to their great shock to find that the decisive vote in favour was cast by COHSE.

To COHSE's great pride and the Labour Party leadership's shock.

Of course the Blair government did nothing about the Amnesty or for that matter Hillsborough, but the truth has finally begun to appear and those of us who stated that the jailing were a simply political act have been vindicated.

Unfortunately many convicted and framed miners lost their pensions and employment, many died not knowing that their innocence would one day be revealed.

We salute those brave striking miners once again for their courage and fortitude against overwhelming forces.

Longworth Hospital Occupation 1981

COHSE members had always been at the forefront of the campaign to defend NHS services.

In early December 1980 a brave fight was waged by COHSE nurses and NHS staff to keep open a rural 50 beded care of the elderly hospital called Longworth in Oxfordshire.

Faced with immediate closure of 13 beds on the top floor of the hospital, staff knew it would only be a matter of time before the rest of the hospital would be closed and the patients transferred to Whitney hospital eight miles away

So with held from Oxford Trades Union Council the hospital was occupied by the eighty nursing and support staff.

Assistant COHSE Steward Myra Bungay stated to the Health Service Journal

"We're fighting for the life of the hospital.........Most of the patients have been here a long time and Longworth is now home to them"

The refusal of Ambulancemen to remove patients from the hospital also strengthened the occupation.

Typically the Royal College of Nursing General secretary Catherine Hall condemned the action demanding that the "Management regain control of the hospital for the sake of nurses and patients" local Rcn Regional Officer Bill Reynolds said"The AHA have lost all control of the hospital" he also claimed a Rcn steward at the hospital had been transferred to another hospital "because the AHA cannot guarantee her safety"

However the courageous fight was to be a brief one, In early February (Tuesday 10th ?) 1981, in a surprise raid by management, the vulnerable patients were removed from the hospital by force and moved to the Churchill Hospital.

As was well documented many of the frail elderly patients now seriously disorientated did not survive many weeks after they were ripped from their homes and the staff the knew (later know as the relocation effect

Police sealed off roads around the hospital to prevent supporters defending the hospital.

The Area Health authority claimed it had raided the hospital because COHSE nurses refused to call off the work-in

Ernie Brook COHSE Regional Officer stated " The Area Health Authority gave verbal assurances it would retain the beds for the next three or four years, when I went to receive its written assurance of the agreement, this sticking point was not included"

"Our COHSE members had fought bravely to defend patient care and the hospital'

Longworth Hospital closed soon after the occupation.

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.

COHSE