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Back the strikes, build solidarity, spread the action...
THE REVOLT TO DEFEND OUR
NHS IS GAINING CONFIDENCE
T
HIS WEEKS JUNIOR DOCTOR
strikes reflected the incredible
strength of feeling to take on
the Tories and support the action to
defend our NHS.
Jeremy Hunt and David Cameron
thought they could intimidate junior
doctors, and undermine public support for
the strikes by demonising the BMA.
They failed. Polls showed that not only
was there a majority behind the BMAs full
walkout, but also that the level of support
has actually increased.
Across the country, picket lines outside
hospitals were bigger than ever, and
confident. Strikers were clear that they are
taking action to protect our NHS from this
toxic contract Hunt wants to impose.
The Tories tried to paint the junior
doctors as irresponsible, selfish even, for
going ahead with a no cover strike.
They were exposed again. It was clear
once more that it is the junior doctors who
are fighting to save the NHS.
BMA junior doctors had organised in
the run up to the strike, winning incredible
and concrete support from consultants who
stepped up to run emergency cover so the
action could be successful.
Solidarity
Meanwhile in Brighton, hundreds of NHS
workers delegated to the Unison Health
Conference marched from the conference
centre to join the local hospital picket lines
to greet the BMA strikers. And the support
didnt just come from inside the NHS.
Hundreds of CWU postal and
communication worker delegates, at their
unions conference in Bournemouth,
organised coaches to the local picket line.
Across the country, on picket lines and
strike marches and rallies, workers joined
the BMA in solidarity with union banners.
Some union leaders are beginning to
organise practical solidarity for the junior
doctors. PCS union leader Mark Serwotka
is calling on the TUC to organise a national
day of action in support of the junior
doctors. Every trade union branch, across
every union, should get behind this call.
If the TUC called the day of action it
could help tip the balance, giving a green
light to workers everywhere to organise
on the ground and go beyond the levels of
solidarity we have seen so far.
Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell join thousands on junior doctor strike march
Already in some places weve seen
glimmers of what is possible.
At SOAS university in London, workers
held a two hour walkout in solidarity with
the doctors during a previous strike.
In Bristol, and in east London, activists
have organised, after setting up local
support groups for the junior doctors, to get
workplace lunchtime walkouts to express
their solidarity with the BMA.
Confident
In London, a joint demonstration by BMA
and the NUT teachers union saw over
5,000 junior doctors, teachers and their
supporters march on the Department of
Health, with cries of Jeremy Hunt Has
Got To Go!.
As the vibrant march passed
parliament, it was joined by Labour
leader Jeremy Corbyn and shadow
chancellor John McDonnell, to huge
cheers. It was a mass show of strength
and solidarity. With teachers gearing up
for strikes tooto defend education from
privatisationtheres a real sense that we
can turn the tide against the Tories.
From the Panama tax scandal, to the
deep splits thatll only intensify over the
EU, this government is on the ropes.
If our union movement is organised,
and our union leaders give the lead by
calling action and spreading the strikes and
protests, we can kick the Tories out.
Seize
Having socialists leading the Labour party
gives millions of people confidence in the
idea that an alternative is possible.
But we cant wait till 2020 to stop the
austerity onslaught. With the Labour
right determined to undermine and curtail
Corbyn, we need a movement on the
ground to support his anti-austerity agenda.
We cant look to parliament, we have to
build the fightback now. We need to seize
the moment by escalating the action, and
building the movement on the streets and in
the workplaces now.
Convoy to Calais: 18 June
Organised by Stand Up To Racism with the
trade unions, Peoples Assembly, and others.
Trade unionists & others are mobilising for a
mass convoy to Calais in June. For more info
see StandUpToRacism.org.uk
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