THE major issue facing delegates to last week's conference of the workers' union COHSE tion rate and the recent large increases awarded to doctors, nurses have been offered a derisory 14 per cent.
Appeals by the unions to Thatcher to increas me oner ma men on deal cars. so uc cundi delegates had to decide on what the union should do.
The executive proposed a ballot of branches, with a recommendation to reject the offer. But no SUASHVIS leadership about how the pay battle could be won.
health was nurses' support were forthcoming from the union action.
Several emergency motions at the conference tried to fill this gap, suggesting strike action with campaigns solidarity action by the rest of the trade unior These motions were ruled out of order on the conference did DUl debate an emergency resolution from the Dunder branch which outlined a campaign of industrial Initially the executive intended to oppose this but when it seemed likely that conference would the resolunion. LINC executive asked delegates to remit it. This was carried, as was the ballot recommendation, the result of which will be known in ten days Some nurses may be reluctant to take strike They may be scared of being disciplined by the General Nursing Council, or be concerned build leaving the NHS would include similar stage.
sibility to campaign for similar solidarity. about patients' welfare. Yet industrial action with emergency cover is the only way the claim can be won; a victory which is necessary to stop nurses The fear of disciplining action by the nursing council can be laid to rest if a sufficiently large number of people were involved in industrial acThe cause of the nurses can also be advanced if they link up with other trades unionists.
other health service staff and administrative and clerical staff whose negotiations have reached a Solidarity action is crucial for nurses to win their claim. In 1914 the miners came out in sup port of the nurses. The TUC today has a respon• expressions ol