It is like a police state. There are masses of the police on the streets. You can see burnt out shells of very specific targets attacked by the previous night's cromathe banks and e local uppie pub.
Predictably, the media circus starts. Underlying issues are buried by Tory and Labour alike, who condemn the rioting by praise the police.
In the evening the streets are empty • excent for police, it is as it there is a curfew. The few black youth on the street are the main target of police inBrixton Friday tiny demo outside the police station. Brixton is taken up with Christmas shopping. ne veocer of tangunto and prosperity once again falls like a Rod Marshall THE LOW PAID cleaning workers on strike at Hillingdon hospital for four months are standing firm despite attempts by UNISON negotiators to reach a settlement with Pall Mall management. Pall Mall wanted to cut 20 per cent off their wages and sacked them when they refused to agrec.
UNISON regional Health official odrey castwood nas scat a icuer tc Pall Mall calling for a settiement. The strikers call for action to spread includ. ing a one day stoppage of the entire Picket line feeling was expressed by strike leader Malkiat Bilku who stated "There will be no settlement until we get our jobs back on the old terms and conditions. Our contracts must be honoured". Another striker said "What we want is a letter to go round to the people inside calling them out on a one-day strike". However, the strikers are even being told they can not hold a UNISON branch meeting.
A lobby is being organised of UNISON's next health committee calling for a London wide demonstration in support of the strikers. • Messages of support: UNISON Hilligndon NHS Trust branch, UNISON office, Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex.
Socialist Outlook 95 • January 20 1996.