IN 1974 the nurses won a pay award of 30 SUCH cent that smashed right through the new Labour government's for pay limits. How did the tremendous The first major factor was the mintancy tion to win that the nurses Demonstratons many cities attracted thousands many called for all-out strike action.
When the action began in April 74, it was in the period of the Labour government's boneymoon with HOUSE working class. Five years later right-wing policies have sapped the fighting spirit of all sections of the labour moscient.
After the Heath government's attacks on working class living standards, there high hopes for what Labour could do.
With Benn in charge industry, and Castle in charge of health, it was expected that Socialist Challenge 22 March 1979 page 4 this would be a really left government, menting its manifesto.
This militancy unions involved to act. plans even me Ken, waich in Ene present dispute has against any industrial action by the suggested resignations from the National Health Service. constructive suggestion but it WES better than nothing at all.
The leaders were unwilling to be the first to wreck the conceived Social Contract, yet they supported claim.
The second major factor was the involvement of the industrial unions.
*How much is your worth?', the nurses asked the labour movement, was a strong response. Yorkshire miners set the hal WCHC rolling when a decided on strike action in support of the nurses. of Nurses approached the most their localities and frequently succeeded in winning workers imple- to take solidarity action with their claim. forced the miners, hospital ancillary and semi-medical workers all took argued action in support of the nurses' claim.
The nurses themselves took strike action in the form of half very day or two hour strikes.
suggesting Perhaps the most important tactic that the nurses themselves employed was to refuse and NUPE to service private patients in NHS hospitals. newly- This not only helped forward the nurses own claim but took the nurses' up the question of cuts in the health service Party policy private beds.
Castle was forced to deal with a major campaign against pay and there beds as a result of this action.
The The nurses clearly saw their OWE ballot vote parcel National Health Service. Again the working class still expected the Labour government to be doing just that.
Finally, the different policies from workers, other joint action many areas.
unions involved prepared to take action went a long and Labour abolishing Barbara that to expect the HOCHICH fool's paradise.
pay claim as part and of moves to a better without problem of forced.
the unions involved began to be overcome through setting up committees With representatives from all and seeking to involve other unions solidarity these towards overcoming the divisions sown the unions nationally.
1974 showed that the nurses can win wei wage demand: and they can do so again. The lessons of how it was done in 1974 can be usefully brought to bear in the present dispute.
The added problem now is that no one believes any longer mal Labour will improve the health service. Everyone knows Labour implement socialist policies is to live in a The militancy of 1974 will be found again in this dispute if we can argue that the hopes of 1974 were not irrelevant. What was groundless was to expect the Labour government to do it hand being
NUPE members working held at Week.