A lively march of over 1.000 trade unionists tumed out in Birmingham on March 3 to support the Dudley hospital strikers, who are continuing with their campaign of action to resist their transfer to private contractors: 600 support staff from the Dudley group of hospitals have staged a sucamounting to 14 weeks since the dispute began last summer. The strikes have been officially supported by UNISON, whose General Secretary Dave Prentice gave a militant-sounding large speech to the opening rally, which was chaired into SON Secretary Mark New. Among the other speakers was Bob Whitehead from the campaign to save Selly Oak Hospital, which faces closure as part of the new E291m Birmingham University lospital PFl scheme (sec this page). new Other support for the demonstration came from UNISON branches, the local Fire Brigades Union, UCATT members employed by Birmingham City Council, and others.
After the speeches were over the march headed down the Bristol Road to beseige the surgery of junior health minister and local Labour MP Gisella Stuart.
The size and spirit of the protest should have encouraged the Dudley strikers, whose tenacious fight-has become the focal point of resistance North to the government's Private Finance Initiative. Donations and messages of support should be sent to: UNISON Dudley Group of Hospitals, Union Office, Wordsley Hospital, Stream Road Stourbridge DY8 5QX Assemble 11am Hyde Park (nearest tube Marble Arch) Rally at Trafalgar Square • Tony Benn MP. • George Galoway MP.
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