TENS OF thousands of health workers turned out at an estimated 420 lunchtime protest rallies and pickets outside hospitals on March 31.
THE But the danger is that unless a big campaign is mounted in UNISON and other health unions to demand more substantial industrial action, that show of anger will be the end rather tan the beginning of any real fight.
Originally called by nursing unions in protest at their insulting 1 percent pay award from the review body, the limited action was joined by almost all sections of health VES workers, who have now rejected similarly inadequate increases.
The Tory bid to confuse and buy off some sections with the announcement that up to 2 percent more could be negotiated locally with Trusts has not convinced many health workers.
They know that if they do this they are destroying their national pay agreement, and that any cash conceded this year by Trust bosses may well be taken away again next year.
In any even many Trusts are struggling financially and unwilling to fork out the additional money unless job-cutting strings are attached.
With so little on offer, it would have seemed that the unions should have gone all cent' - hardly the way to galout to build the mood for vanise the troops. strike action on a decent pay For national union leaders claim. Instead there have been terrified of calling any real acweeks of inaction, and discus- tion, the 'Out to Lunch' prosion has been reduced to test was an ideal device. fighting for the "full 3 per- If nobody turned out, they
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could claim that there was no mood for a fight. But if thousands did respond, then unlike a one-day strike, bureaucrats could still argue that this limited action was as far as many were prepared to go. key action failed to win any real enthusiasm among staff, although those who did turn out on the day won the predictable warm support from the general public, with horns tooting in all directions.
In some hospitals unions left the running to the no-strike Royal College of Nursing. In others union members responded strongly, holding militant meetings and asking what comes next.
'Consultation'
UNISON the biggest NHS union, had announced that there would be a six-week "consultation' on whether to take any further action.
It is quite clear that top leaders are desperately hoping that in this period the RCN will drop its pretence of opposition, allowing UNISON to follow them into surrender.
To combat this UNISON activists, and other health trade unionists must demand branch meetings to discuss the next steps and send resolutions to regional councils and health group bodies and officials demanding a mobilisation for industrial action.
HOSPITALS DEFEND THE NHS