From little things

When you work in a hospital sometimes it feels like the call for “workers of the world unite” is a goal pretty far from reach. In just one hospital workers can be in six or so separate unions. Our EBAs are negotiated at different times making joint “protected” industrial action very difficult. Departments can be so specialised that workers in one area often have no call to speak with workers on the next ward. Hierarchy reigns supreme.

But when the ruling class proposes a broad attack on the health system we have an opportunity to raise something at work that everyone can rally around.

In Victoria, Socialist Alternative has delegates and active unionists in all four branches of the health workers’ unions (HWU, HACSU, VHPA, 4th branch) and in the nurses and midwives union (ANMF).

When a rally against the proposed Medicare co-payment scheme was announced we immediately pushed for our unions to start promoting the rally. Most health unions built the rally online and HACSU and the 4th branch sent material to all of their members. Importantly, this was followed up by most of these unions having a presence at the rally, with some speaking from the front, largely because of our efforts.

In our workplaces, Socialist Alternative members put up posters in tea rooms and hospital cafeterias. We spoke to our work mates, got the rally details out to friends and delegates in other health services. We handed out leaflets in hospital foyers and argued with other delegates to raise the issue with members in their areas.

Most of us were met with general agreement and a willingness to talk about the issue. It was harder to convince co-workers to come to the rally but the issue has provided a chance to have discussions about why public opposition to attacks like this is important. It has been helpful for identifying others at work that might be willing to be more active in the workplace and take the first steps in building a united effort to save public health.