Staffordshire Shop Stewards Network

National Shop Stewards Network – Staffordshire

- - - Public Meeting - - -
"Build Support for Junior Doctors"
 7pm Wednesday 9th March
Holy Trinity Community Centre, London Rd Newcastle ST5 1LQ (next to Holy Trinity Church on the A34 with large car park at the rear)
Speakers include local BMA activist and NSSN rep 
 Stop Tory attacks on NHS!

Health minister Jeremy Hunt has declared war on junior doctors by imposing a contract which will remove safeguards to them working more unsocial hours, and for less pay. It's a contract that the public knows will put patients' safety at risk. It's a hard pill to swallow when there are massive shortages of doctors and nurses across the NHS. How does Hunt intend to fill these vacancies when junior doctors have been made to feel undervalued and demoralised by the stance he has taken, and when student grants for nurses have been axed?

Doctors didn't pick this fight but are determined to win it

Left with no other option the BMA doctors' union has announced an escalation of action to three 48-hour strikes in March and April. Does Hunt think that junior doctors who are used to working upwards of 70 hours a week won't have the stamina to keep up this action?

No junior doctor disagrees with the call to improve cover in the NHS over the whole of the week. To do this requires more staff and extra funding. But this is not what the government proposes. It's clear that this dispute is over so much more than pay & hours.

Junior doctors along with millions across the country know the NHS is under threat. This contract is part of the Tories' plan to destabilise the NHS, run it down, claim it's failing, and then pass it over to the eagerly waiting hands of the private sector. Junior Doctors know what's at stake.

All health workers and NHS users need to support them in their fight.

The NSSN will continue our support for the BMA and their members and to call for the TUC and the trade unions, particularly in health, to organise a national demonstration to defend the NHS and support the BMA and the junior doctors as well as defending NHS bursaries. This could really build confidence about co-ordinated industrial action across the health service.

To assist in this, we have produced a model motion that can be used in unions at all levels and trades councils:-

"This (union organisation) notes that the Government, through health minister Jeremy Hunt, has signalled their intention to impose the new contract on Junior Doctors from this August.

We note that a number of NHS chief executives, although supportive of the new contract have opposed imposition under pressure. But Hunt is threatening cuts to funding if they don’t carry it out.

We salute the defiant struggle of the Junior Doctors and their union the BMA, which is continuing with further days of strike action which will be supplemented by a legal challenge.

We condemn the contract imposition and resolve to give support and solidarity to the BMA and their members in the action that they take, including local protests and lobbies to pressure Trusts to refuse to implement the contract.

We call on the NEC and all constitutional committees and branches to invite BMA members to address their meetings and visit Junior Doctors’ picket lines.

We believe that this imposition is part and parcel of a wider Tory attack on the NHS, including the real likelihood of similar changes to terms and conditions of other NHS workers.

We therefore resolve that our union call on the TUC to urgently convene a special General Council with an invitation to the BMA and the other health unions."

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We all need the NHS and we need YOU to help save it from the privateers. To find out how you can help either come to our public meeting (details above) or call 07845893607

Support Junior Doctors' Picket Lines
Next Wednesday March 9^th, Junior Doctors will start the first of three more 48-hour strikes after the Tories announced their plan to impose the new contract

The planned dates of industrial action are:

9 – 11 March: Emergency care only between 8am on Wednesday 9 March and 8am on Friday 11 March (48 hours)

6 – 8 April: Emergency care only between 8am on Wednesday 6 April and 8am on Friday 8 April (48 hours)

26 – 28 April: Emergency care only between 8am on Tuesday 26 April and 8am on Thursday 28 April (48 hours)

Local picket lines will be in place from 8am at the main entrance of the Royal Stoke University Hospital on the A34 and outside the Harplands Hospital on Hilton Road