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Strikes set for 1, 8 & 16 December... BMA is fighting for the NHS!

JUNIOR DOCTORS CAN STRIKE

MAJOR BLOW TO THE TORIES

HE TORIES RETREAT ON TAX

credits reveals that, despite
their vicious intent on destroying
working class peoples lives, they are
also weak and divided. In this context,
the planned national strikes by junior
doctors in the BMA can inflict real
damage to the Tory austerity agenda.
Tens of thousands of junior doctors have
voted by 98 percent to strike! They are
fighting to defend unsocial hours pay from
the Tories attempt to impose a contract that
is unsafe and will be catastrophic for our
NHS. Strikes start next week, with dates
set for 1, 8 & 16 December.
A national strike by junior doctors,
leading resistance to a major attack on
pay and on our NHS, provides a focus for
everyone who wants to fight austerity.
Jeremy Corbyns election was a
reflection of a mood for an alternative
to austerity, and of a hopeful movement
that wants to defend our NHS and show
solidarity with refugees.
The attack on the NHS has been a
central plank of the Tories agenda. So has
their Trade Union Bill, which passed its
third reading this month and represents a
fundamental assault on our right to strike.

Scrambling

What better way to defend our right to

strike than for doctors to strike to save the
much loved NHS? Many see that it is the
doctors who are fighting to save the NHS
and the Tories who are trying to destroy it.
Huge demonstrations by junior doctors
kept up pressure on BMA leaders to
organise the ballot and name dates for
hard-hitting strikes.
This vibrant campaign has the Tories
on the back foot, intensifying the crisis
they found themselves in over tax credits.
Jeremy Hunt is scrambling around.
The 11 percent offer revealed the Tories
weakness. It shows that the campaign is
having an impact. But, rightly, it was met
with derision by many junior doctors. The
Tories new contract would see doctors
pay cut by an average of 30 percent!
So the 11 percent pay rise Hunt
announced is still a pay cut, on top of what
has been effectively a pay cut for five years
running. Junior doctors carry huge debts,
and work well beyond contracted hours.
Hunt knows that junior doctors will
win widespread support from the public.

Junior doctors are striking to defend our NHS

Thats why he finally agreed to ACAS talks.

Quite rightly, BMA insisted it will go ahead
with strikes unless the threat to impose the
contract is removed, as talks began.
A doctors strike this could light a spark
and give confidence to other workersand
Hunt knows it. They could provide a lead
for the steel workers and HMRC workers
who face huge job losses to fightback.
Thats why other workers, trade unionists,
and community campaigners should flood
the picket lines with solidarity.

Networks

Tory chancellor Osbornes Autumn

Statement revealed that the Tories will
continue to use austerity to hit the poorest
while the rich get richer.
Thats why its good that driving
examiners in the PCS are also striking
nationally by region from 1 to 4 December.
Its no coincidence that the Tories are
attacking our right to strike. They want to
weaken the force with the power to mount
real oppositionour unions. Our movement
must be organised to defy the anti-union
laws if they are implemented.
The junior doctors strike gives our
movement a chance to rebuild solidarity
networks across our unions. Recent NHS
strikes were a magnificent show of workers
across the NHS coming together.

Black and white, migrant and nonmigrantthey stood together on picket

lines to defend our NHS.
The NHS s a brilliant example of
why immigration is not the problem and
why we must defend multiculturalism.
It wouldnt exist without migrants and
many different cultures.
We need to stand together in mass,
national coordinated strikes to defend our
services, our jobs and our communities
from the Tories attacks. The doctors
strikes are a chance for a victory to
defend our NHS, our pay and drive
back austerity. Everyone who cares
about the NHS must rally behind the
doctorssolidarity can help them win.

Invite a junior doctor to speak at

your union/ workplace meeting
Get a delegation from your work/
union to visit the nearest hospital picket
line with a collection (from 8am)
Take a solidarity selfie with the
I support the junior doctors poster:
http://bit.ly/1XtssFv

After the Paris attacks:

No to racism, no to war

The world was horrified by shootings and

suicide bombings that killed at least 129
people in Paris. Our sympathy is with the
victims, families and friends.
French president Francois Hollande is
taking advantage of the fear and grief to
launch a clampdown at homeand more
bombing in Syria. Now David Cameron
wants to do the same in Britain, hiring more
spooks to spy on us and wants cops to shoot
to kill on our streets. Hes desperate to join
the bombing of Syria too.
But Isis is the product of the Wests wars
and racism. More of the same is no solution.
It will only fuel the fire and bring more
injustice, violence and death.

JOIN STOP THE WAR PROTESTS

THIS WEEK: stopthewar.org.uk

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