Management stopped our PORTSMOUTH HEALTH workers have been in dispute with their health authority since 13 January over its refusal to stop buyworkers ANDREW LAVENDER of NUPE visited Leeds during the anti-apartheid trade SON of Leeds NUPE spoke to Andrew about AFTER a resolution opposing apartheid was passed at the TUC conference last September it came before our district shop stewards committee and we agreed that there was a need for action. then approached the health authority with a view to changing their buying policy of South African goods. However the authority argued that it would not 'discriminate against the country of origin'.
So we won support for a boycott in the stores.
fully supported by the health service drivers. We refused to unload lorries with South them, we responded by forming pickets outside the store for the rest of the day on which it happened. contract drivers. Fortunately our hardship fund received massive support and we were able to make We appealed to a committee of the health authority on 3 March, but while we were giving evidence the chair, who boasted of his connections with South Africa, fell asleep. The appeal was dismissed and members were so disgusted by this attitude that they decided to hold a two-day stoppage in the Portsmouth district to highlight the After we returned from the strike on 6 March we were locked out. Later scab labour was brought into the stores. Then the two main hospitals in Portsmouth were put on red alert, with a ban on all in danger of losing some of the public support we had gained, and we negotiated the return to work.
This involved some staff being allowed not to handle South African goods for a period of two months in return for the withdrawal of the contractors and no victimisation. At the end of this resume normal work and the usual disciplinary procedures will apply. We have been using this period to lobby for support from other parts of the country and to try and get boycotts in other health A number of districts have been approached by the union and have agreed to change Our NUPE full-time officer has given us full ecutive, but we are also pushing for the union to authorities as well as health authorities, and call on them to change their buying policies if they include marvellous and we've had lots of messages of support. But what we really want is more action from The Parliamentary Labour Party put down an early-day motion in the Commons supporting our action and we've also had support from the Labour group in Europe. We need a commitment from the Labour leadership to make this issue a and prepare for when Labour gets into power. Its anti-apartheid policies must be put into effect and not left on the shelf as happened in Our action has overcome the doubts of some workers and showed that action can be taken by trade unions. It has had an impact. Whatever happens to us after 12 May, the important thing is that it has raised consciousness on this issue. Hopefully that will lead to much more widespread action *CORMAC IRISH NATIONALISTS WAIT UNTIL THE LEAT ERSHIP OF THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY ARRIVES AT THE SAME RADICAL CONCLUSION?!?
DON'T HOLD YOUK BREATH UMRAUL.