MSF activists are urging maximum support on their picket lines at Chasing Cross and Westminster Hospitals from trade unions and community or. garisa. on5.
Meanwhile MSF members at the balloting on strike action against the threat of 600-700 job losses management grapple with a E4-C7m shortfall, and resistance - mainly led Hospitals.
This pressure ma well have helped persuade NE Thames Regional health chiefs to allocate Landon slush-fund to the embattled Bloomsbury & Islington health authority (E9.6m), with smaller amounts to reduce the deficits faced Fighting together - MSF, NUPE, NALGO and COHSE rally in defence of Bloomsbury jobs by the flagging Barts Hospitals and Royal London.
Cash crises Even with the extra money, each of these units remains deep in crisis.
are escalating throughout London's NHS tal Trust, which announced one week that it was £1 million in the red. revealed a wook later that the figure was £2.8m • and rising. Part of the incompetent managers forgot to include staff National Insurance and pensions payments in the Trust's budget!
But there is more misery in the capital, the government's own inquiry NUT attack on lan Murch IAN MURCH, national treasurer PE headed by Sir Bernard Tomlinson is due to report in the autumn, and is certain to recommend wholesale Now Health Secretary Virginia Botsomey has announced the creaton of ominsons cosure plans are mole mented "decisively and rapidly" before any large-scale opposition can It is essential that sociaists and trade unionists in the capital cot ready to resist this new, frontal onslaught on our health service: Labour MPs must be carry upon to wake a croar stand opposition to the King's Fund report and to Tomlinson's secretive 'inquiry' and its rigged findings Meanwhile the widest possible soldarity must be buit behind every section of heath workers that takes strike action in defense of our NHS. that district.
Bloomer
A ONE DAY strike by Birmingham social services workers was overwhelming ly supported by NALGO members, with unionised social workers refusing to cross picket lines.
The action, to press regrading demands, closed three area offices completely, with a further 24 offices and outlying social work teams picketed Administrative staff showed their important role, as social services he dwork officer were brought to a near standstill.
Administrative staff grades have not been reviewed for twenty years, staff responsibilities and skill re quirements have massively increased.
Highly skilled
Computerisation and the increasing complexity or social
claim Birmingham NALGO shop steward and Pete