UNISON's National Executive are responsible for a despicable betrayal of a heroic dispute, similar to that of the Liverpool Dockers. Last year's UNISON conference in June gave a standing ovation to the Hillingdon Hospital strikers after a moving speech by General Secretary Rodney Bickersfaffe.
Conference then unanimously adopted a resolution instructing the NEC to organise a series of demonstrations and to spread the dispute against the employer's company, Pall Mall.
Yet they called only one demonstration, a week-long vigil outside the HO of the parent company, and the meeting of union reps in Pall Mall was eventually convened in December 1996.
However the most shameful episode was the acceptance by an NEC sub-committee of a cash offer from the employers, without a ballot, and without a vote at a strikers' meetThe majority of the strikers did reiect the offer and have continued their strike. UNISON members and branches have increased their financial support to sustain the strikers since official backing and strike pay has been stopped. Even film maker Ken Loach has given valuable support.
UNISON Regions have also voted to make donations worth £20,000, but these have been blocked by unelected regional secretaries. Calls for the reinstatement of official support to the strike have attracted the largest number of resolutions at this year's conference (along with the election of regional secretaries).
But most of these have been ruled out of order by the Standing Orders Committee, which judged that only the NEC has jurisdiction over industrial action!
Apologists for the NEC have argued that the strike could not win and it should be ended. However, the truth is that it was run into the ground by the NEC who failed to organise the sort of campaign that conference agreed to.
Since official backing was withdrawn, figures released indicate that Pall Mall barely broke even last year and their parent company is looking to sell it off. UNISON could have shaken Pall Mall by organising a union recruitment campagn and submitting claims for a minimum wage.
Alongside the Liverpool dockers, the Hillingdon strikers are a beacon for social justice in Britain today. UNISON conference will have an opportunity to vote a motion of censure on the NEC and attempt to reverse the betrayal of the strikers.