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NHS STRIKES TO KICKSTART
WEEK OF REVOLT OVER PAY
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Health 011014
N
OW MORE HEALTH WORKERS
have voted to join the strike for
the NHS on 13 October. The Royal
College of Midwives (RCM) and Unite
unions have returned big YES votes for
action, following Unisons announcment
last week that strikes would go ahead
against the Tories insulting pay offer.
The NHS strike on 13 October, 7-11am,
can provide the focus for the whole
movement. It will launch a week of strikes
and demonstrations. This is a chance for
everyone, and not just health workers, to get
behind the strike to defend the NHS.
Then local government workers and
lecturers are set to strike on the 14th, with
civil service workers out on the 15th.
The week will be topped off by two huge
demonstrations on the 18th in Glasgow and
London called by the TUC and STUC.
Breakfast
Many may feel theyd rather be out for more
than four hours, but its important to use the
action called as a successful frst step in the
fght for fair pay and the NHS.
The political impact of an NHS strike can
be massive. The Tories assault on the NHS
has enraged millions who can see the strike
as their fght too.
In some areas, communities are already
organising Breakfast for the NHS
solidarity visits to picket lines at hospitals.
Health workers should argue to shape
the strike by inviting local unions, patient
groups, and NHS campaigns.
Attacks on NHS pay are about preparing
the health service for privatisation, to make
the sell off as proftable as possible for the
Tories big business chums.
As the politicians grabbed a 10 percent
pay rise, public sector workers face a pay cut
in real terms, with just a 1 percent rise.
To add insult to injury, most NHS
workers wont even get the 1 percent!
The big strike votes across the unions
refect the rage many feel over workload,
cuts and closures, and the privatisation
undermining a service that health workers
slog day in day out to provide.
And its not just the NHSthe Tories
have the whole public sector under siege.
Their decision to attack workers pay
everywhere can unify resistance. We saw
this on 10 July, when local government
workers, teachers, civil service workers, and
frefghters all walked out together.
Now October poses the possibility of
mobilising a fght that can win. Solid strikes
will help put pressure on union leaders. This
has to be just the beginning of our campaign.
Crocodile
There will be huge support for NHS workers
taking action to defend it from the rich
privateer vultures.
Tens of thousands took to the streets in
the last two years, in areas like Lewisham,
Stafford and West London, opposing A&E
closures and sweeping cuts.
Ignore the crocodile tears from the
Tories, who say striking NHS workers are
neglecting patients.
Its the Tories who are cutting wards,
staffng levels, and even whole hospitals
permanently.
Doncaster Care UK strikerswho have
struck for 70 dayswere employed by the
NHS, then sold off to the notorious private
frm, Care UK. Now the service is under
threat as proft is put frst. Theyre striking
for the future of the NHS and we can too.
We cant let our unions repeat mistakes.
In 2011, 2.6 million struck over pensions.
Some union leaders supported a deal that
sold members short. This led to a year of
inaction as theassault on workers intensifed.
Prepared
Now our union leaders are right to push for
strikes over pay. This government is weak.
The incredible campaign in Scotland, where
45 percent voted to reject Tory austerity,
created a crisis for Cameron and Miliband.
Labour promises the same cuts and lined
up behind the Tories in Scotland. Whatever
government we get in 2015, we must
be prepared to fght. Autumn and winter
strikes can beat the pay freeze, and allow
us to strengthen branch and workplace
organisation. But to win, we have to
organise pressure now to escalate strikes.
As midwives and Unite health workers vote to join 13 October strike...
Care UK strikers are fghting for the future of the NHS

WHAT YOU CAN DO: GET ACTIVE
If youre not in a union, join now
Contact other local unions and ask them to use
petitions supporting the strikes to defend the NHS
Organise for your picket line to be a hub for
resistance to the Tories on the day. Some branches
are doing Breakfasts for the NHS where students,
patients, trade unionists and campaigns will join the
picket for a solidarity breakfast!
Ask your branch for pay campaign materials and to
organise a meeting in your section.
Organise union stalls: leafet your work to build the
best turnout for strike day.
Invite strikers, such as Care UK, council
workers and firefighters, to your branch and send a
donation and message of support.
UNITE THE RESISTANCE
STRIKING
TOGETHER
Organising to win conference
Speakers include: Unison Care UK strikers, Matt
Wrack FBU general secretary, Billy Hayes CWU, John
McDonnell MP, US fast food strikers, Jane Aitchison
PCS, Ian Lawrence NAPO, Ian Hodson BFAWU, Peter
Pinkney RMT, Mandy Brown Lewisham College UCU.
Saturday 15 November, Bloomsbury
Baptist Church, central London.
Book up online at uniteresist.org