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From The Socialist newspaper, 17 October 2007
Swansea fights the cuts
SWANSEA TRADES Council and Swansea Unison Health branch held a successful public protest meeting over the local Trust's decision to close 86 beds and get rid of 750 health workers, almost half of them nursing staff.
Alec Thraves, Swansea Trades Union Council and Socialist Party
Last year, a Trades Council-initiated NHS campaign resulted in a moratorium on the proposed closure of Fairwood hospital, Ward 1 at Hill House and the transfer of the city's neurosurgery to Cardiff. As Trades Council speaker Rob Williams told the packed meeting: "Campaigning and fighting back can get results!"
However, even temporary victories have to be won again and again when you have a big-business friendly government at Westminster and Cardiff Bay who put balancing the trusts' books before patient care.
The Trades Council called the meeting because the Trust said the changes were not significant enough to warrant public consultation! Try telling that to the hundreds of stressed-out, angry health workers who signed the Socialist Party petitions over the past few months in Swansea city centre.
Swansea trade unionists have made it clear they will support any action Unison members take in defence of jobs and services and will urge affiliates to join the Unison health national demo on 3 November.
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Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 17 October 2007:
National Health Service Cutbacks and privatisation kill
The vultures are circling ever closer
Postal dispute
Postal workers waiting to assess Royal Mail deal
Fighting Royal Mail management's attacks
Solid unofficial action in East London
National Shop Stewards' Network meetings
Socialist Party Marxist analysis
International Appeal
Students on trumped-up charges
Socialist Students
National Shop Stewards Network
Young workers and students need to get involved
"You've got to stick together"
Stop the placement rip-off now!
Campaign for a New Workers Party
Trade Union Freedom Bill
Trade Union Freedom Bill: Banishing Thatcher's anti-union legacy?
Working longer hours for less pay
Socialist Party women
ITV2 - making a good deal out of women's bodies
International socialist news and analysis
Workers' struggle and political instability sends Polish government into meltdown
Australia: Liberals v Labour - no choice for working people in election
Socialist Party news and analysis
Children's homes at risk of buy-outs
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