Troops threat as engineers’ strike disrupts hospital

Press, 29 November 1979, Page 8

Troops threat as engineers’ strike disrupts hospital

NZPA-Reuter London The British Government is prepared to use troops as a last resort, to prevent hospital patients being put at risk by unofficial industrial action. . The warning came as 55 engineers at- Charing Cross Hospital, London, abandoned their oil blockade in the face of a rival picket of hospital staff, but continued their unofficial five-week strike. Delighted nurses cheered as another oil tanker passed through the “mercy picket” bringing warmth and comfort to patients and staff. The Prime Minister (Mrs Margaret Thatcher) told the House of Commons that whatever action was necesIsary would be taken to get

oil supplies into the beleaguered hospital. Mrs Thatcher said the scenes outside the hospital had “appalled and repelled” her and showed “callous disregard for common humanity.” A Department of Health spokesman said tanker drivers prepared to cross picket lines might be used. “And, in the unlikely event that all else failed, the use of troops could not be absolutely ruled out,” he said.

He emphasised that, such measures would be taken only if it was the only way of protecting patients’ lives. The same would apply in other health-service disputes where essential supplies were cut off.

The engineers have been roundly condemned by doctors, nurses, and patients. The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (Mr Len Murray) urged them to accept their union’s advice to resume work. But he said the blame did not lay entirely with the engineers.

“In this, as in other National Health Service disputes, it is clear that the attitudes and practices of many N.H.S. managers leaves a great deal to be desired.” Delighted nurses on the counter-picket rushed to shake the hand of a tanker driver, Peter Flynn, as he I brought in enough supplies |to keep the 787-bed hospital, jin Fulham, going for two 'days.

Two more tankers followed. Nurses and doctors began picketing on Tuesday. They were joined by a National Union of Public Employees’ branch secretary, Ted Hutchins, a hospital technician, who said the engineers had gone about the dispute the wrong way.

Doctor Angie Altman, aged 24, who led the counterdemonstration against the engineers’ picket said she was thrilled the tankers had got through.

She added: “We feel all our efforts have been worth while. We intend to stay out here all night, and we are going to get more tankers

, in tomorrow — convoys if we can get them.”