4th March National Demonstration to defend the NHS
Health Campaigns Together (a national network of over thirty NHS campaigning organisations and unions working together to co-ordinate action to defend the NHS) have called a national demonstration in London on 4th March. RMT has agreed to support and widely publicise this demonstration starting at 12.00 noon from Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 0 and marching to Parliament.
The calling letter, signed by Mike Forster of Hands off HRI campaign in Huddersfield and Dr Louise Irvine of the Save Lewisham Hospital Campaign states: “We believe the time has come to demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for the NHS and anger and opposition to the destructiveness of Tory policies.”
The organisers are aiming for maximum support so that the wider public will become more aware of the threats we face: “The NHS crisis will intensify this winter and there will be no let-up in the following months as drastic cost cutting Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) are rolled out across the country, leading to more cuts and closures.”
The timing also means that the demonstration can be linked to strengthening vital campaigns in each locality. “By March the “winter crisis” will not be over, and the full reality of the STP plans will have become clearer to many more people. “We believe this could be a massive demonstration, bringing together the growing number of community campaigns with the trade union movement.”
We hope so and I urge everyone to do all you can to build for this important demonstration.
Bring colleagues, friends and family. The NHS is the single greatest achievement of working class people in Britain. We cannot allow it to be undermined and ultimately destroyed. We echo Nye Bevan’s words, sending a clear statement to this government; “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with the faith to fight for it.”
Thanking you in anticipation
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary