Belfast Hospital Row: Sectarian Attack on Workers Rights

Loyalist politician Robert Bradford recently added another chapter to his book of attacks on the anti-Unionist workingclass when he attacked workers in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, using the 'privilege' Loyalist politician Robert Bradford recently added another chapter to his book of attacks on the anti-Unionist working class when he attacked workers in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, using the 'privilege' of the Westminster Parliament to name them as supporters of the IRA. This follows on from his campaign to force cutbacks in the West Belfast Poleglass housing scheme. He got away with it then because of the lack of reaction from the anti-Unionist working-class, but this time it may be a different story.

### Bradford's activities are

very like those of American Senator Joe iicCarthy in the mid-50s. He established a reign of terror where anyone with left-wing sympathies was blacklisted and barred from all fors:s of employment, It's also reminiscent of the system of discrimination in the North - universal under Stormont and stilla dominant factor in industry - which kept socialists, republicans and the mass of ‘disloyal! catholics on the dole. In fact one of the victories of the mass movement in the North has been to considerably weaken this system in the Royal and this is probably the main reason for Bradford's attack, in this attack on workers! rights the British Labour govt. has been tail-ending the loyalists all along the line. When Loyalists mounted a campaign about security they spent enormous sums erect-— ing a'security barrier' to keep local people out - while continuing to cut back money spent on hospital services -and this in an area with the highest infant mortality rate in Western Furope.

The British use of Parliamentary 'privilege' in ers.

case points only in one ording of the names is a writ for slander, tnis case points only in one direction -— against ine work-The British use of parliamentary 'privilege' in this direction - against the workers, When left-wing MP's named intelligence agent 'Colonel B'! they were reprimanded and papers publishing the name were prosecuted. Yet Bradford is free to set up Irish workers and the recrebroadcast by the media.

There has been a heartening reaction to this intimidation from the men involved and from their union,.Within ‘hy hours one man had gone to the RUC and challenged them to produce evidence against him, John Coul’hard of NUPE,, acting on behalf of the men, challenged Bradford to repeat the allegations and helped the men to issue But these activities are not enough in themselves to him. beat back Bradford and T.U, officials have too weak a record in fighting repression to be left in charge of the fight. Rank and file activity on the streets is an urgent necessity, RVH workers have in the past organised to fight health cuts and unfair dismissals, They should take advantage of their own organisation and rank and file contacts through TUCAR (See P4&& 5) to force a declaration from their employers that they will - respect the democratic rights of the workers and that no worker will be vicimised for their. political beliefs, This sort of organisation could push the trade union movement into active opposition to repression and also prevent further erosion of the health services that Belfast workers depend on. The British govt. and thé bosses are already attacking the workers and are ready to appease Bradford. The workers much depend on ~their own strength to defeat N independence but it is now helping Israel to crush the Palestinian national resistance, There can be no ambiguity on this question. We say:

IRISH TROOPS OUT OF LEBANON!

SUPPORT THE STRUGGLE:

OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE!

DEFEND THE PLO!