Protest camp brings NHS activists together

Staffordshire TUSC supporters

Save Stafford Hospital activists, determined to stop it from being dismantled, have run a protest camp in the hospital grounds for several weeks.

Geoff, who has been at the camp from the beginning, told Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition supporters who visited the camp: "It started with just a few tents but has now grown to around 150 'residents' in just two weeks. Other activists and supporters have visited us from all round the country to show their support."

Visitors have come from Lewisham and Charing Cross in London and from 'Save the Alexandra' in Redditch.

The 'Cancer - Not for Profit' campaign group, which TUSC supporters helped to launch, has also visited to offer support and build links.

This group is fighting the attempted sell-off of Ł1.2 billion worth of cancer care across Staffordshire. Importantly, the protest camp is being backed by Stafford NHS workers who make regular visits with food and support.

While we were there, a bus arrived with about 30 Doncaster Care UK workers who have been striking to stop savage attacks on their wages.

Within minutes, groups of strikers and protesters were discussing the need to join together to fight the attempt by the government to dismantle and privatise the NHS.

TUSC

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance that stands candidates against all cuts and privatisation. It involves the RMT transport workers' union, leading members of other trade unions including the PCS, NUT and POA, and socialist groups including the Socialist Party. In May 2014 TUSC stood 554 candidates, the largest left-of-Labour local election challenge for over 60 years.

www.tusc.org.uk

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