chiefs produce strikebreakers' checklist
RUPERT Murdoch may made the headlines strikebreaking plans at the Sun: but health authorities are in- creasingly keen on preparing to confront trade union action. A confidential battle plan drawn up last autumn by general managers in the North West region (covering Lancashire) sums up the new among NHS chiets. Entitiled "Responses to the threat or ac- tuality of industrial action". sets out objective an "region-wide consistency" in the face of strikes. Managers are urged to prepare for "propaganda battles" rellable media contacts and the appoint- ment of firms of public consultants. The managers gloat over their assess- ment of the altermath of the miners strike "management firmness pays off"; they re- the joice in fact that with unemployemnt "job losses are feared": and they believe that among workers there is "no support for grand strategies widespread action' While it is certainly leaders in health unions have shied away from industrial action since the miners strike began, last did summer massive campaign of rolling strike action involving thousands of hospital workers in the North East score a major victory over privatisation in Sunderland. The managers are equally pleased at the enlarged role of management: "Introduction of general management Details from London * HEALTH CEMERGENCY
have with his PRIVATISATION Manchester and thinking the document of coordinated management stance, privatisation and Industrial action. establishing under the heading relations against These include: dustrial action". mass to give written health working. • Seeking damages Industrial property or goods occurs". true that some see a competitive tendering. • Suspending the pliers whose picket lines. clude discouraging union meetings; direct management com- munication with stall, better brieting of FIGHTING Health Service •. A Conference --- Saturday MARCH 15, 1 10am-4.30pm © CRECHE CAMDEN TOWN HALL: ............ 335 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1 Tel: 01-833 3020 Socialist Viewpoint No. 11 March 1986 p8
one issue. SCREWS YOU UP! strikebreaking: function has favoured a firm, decisive both towards The new get-tough policy is summed up services. "general measures staff taking Industrial action". • Written and verbal warnings to stall vice going (!)" on "the personal consequences of in- • Threats to sack workers who refuse assurances of normal occupations from unions through the courts "where losses to NHS •Calling in private contractors "Ex- clusively with non-NHS staff" to break strikes where stall are in dispute over The contracts of sup- drivers refuse to cross and rule Plans to undermine industrial action in- in district-wide joint BACK which may taining provision." - for our dozen, 1979. situation.
junior management, and discouraging meetings with unions that cover more than
Meanwhile, the general objective is to prepare a strike breaking force (or, as the document puts it, "alternative labour"). "It is essential that senior management are seen to paticipate" in the scabbing. However managers are urged not to gen carried away with their enthusiasm
"Managerial willingness to carry out non-managerial tasks could possibly be counter-productive: some staff will be more willing to take part in industrial ac tion if they are secure in the knowledge that someone else will maintain essential
No shortage of scabs is expected:
"Other staff may almost welcome the challenge of devising ways to keep the ser-
Chillingly the document states that in the event of strike action, use of the armed forces is "possible"
Management are advised to respond to
Aby seeking court orders rather than attempting to eject occupiers: this can be seen as the pattern in hospital occupations at St Leonards, South London Hospital for Women and most recently Neasden Hospital.
document also casts a useful sidelight on the realities of competitive tendering and the old technique of "divide
It admits that:
"Unions see little reason to cooperate
competitive tendering procedures because either NHS stalf will lose the contract, or to win it they will have to accept pay reductions and job losses. The net result is the same (!)"
To ensure that section managers hold the line for competitive tendering rather than opting to Join with their workforce in defending existing standards, the report insists that management jobs be protected:
"Ensure that managers of services
Tbe the subject of a successful outside tender have an assured management task, including the main-
standards of service
So while ancillary jobs are axed by the
managers will feel sure they and their salaries ar quite safe.
The managers also supply an interesting list in order of importance of the services "most at risk" thorugh industrial action. It Is worth remembering that they consider telephone services, delivery of food, catering, laundry and movement of patients to be more important than cleaning, urgent repairs, sterilising in central departments or supplies of drugs.
The hard line of the NW region report is no exception. It is based on an elaboration of the guidelines sent out to all DHAs in
Staking into account the current
Hospital workers should be warned: management are linking forces il unions do not do the same, they face serious danger of defeat.