Workers in the organising a meeting on better health? Certainly not part of the normal run of trade union activity.
But then stewards at Lucas Aerospace go well beyond the ДОКОСИНОЛО e NOSIO! last Saturday in London on Workers plan for better health' was no for Alternative Systems, which they run jointly with the North-eas London Poly.
The Lucas Aerosnace stewards have long been challenging the way that trade unions separate the workers' needs as producers from their needs as consumers and members of the community.
aerospace industry initiatives of shop cuts campaigns.
made by 50 Speakers organised it through CAITS, the Centre FLASHBACK to a successful strike — on the Klein's picket line The stewards' plan for socially useful production was based on bringing together these needs. Many of the products proposed were for the health service; improved kidney machines and more advanced equipment for the disabled were examples.
These products and the new tactic of organising around alternative plans based on attracted a lot of interest among health workers and This wider awareness was reflected in the points experience fighting hospitals in Brent and Hounslow talked alternative generating enthusiasm for their campaigns.
The other link between workers' plans and the movement for better health was brought out by thi Politics for Health group and workers from Guy's They argued against the take care of yourself' Mobll tions. social need has over financial save damaging products. of how Deed munity ОНЬ UUL group or people to maividualism or most preventive mecicine and em phasised instead the social causes of ill-health: high unemployment, the poor nutritional content of the time working; increasingly stressful working condicame criticism on these and other issues for bargaining compensation for unhealthy work ne condon themselves; and for failing to challenge health.
Speakers from women's and tenants' group raised the problem of trade unions drawing up social plans without organised contact with comWOLLSIU Carl d help CAITS turn the papers written for the conferénce into a pamphlet.
Further details from: Jane Barker, CAITS, NE London Poly, Longbridge Rd, Dagenham, Essex.