Solidarity from all five continents

Solidarity messages

NHS Rally 7 March

29 February 2012

Solidarity messages for the Save Our NHS - 7 March Rally from

• Belgium,
• Canada,
• Ghana,
• Hong Kong and
• New Zealand

Belgium: ABVV-FGTB

The FGTB-ABVV is really deeply concerned about the future of the NHS, based on competition and thus with a great risk of fragmenting the health service, worsening the care available to patients and meaning continued uncertainty for NHS employees. We consider that we are living moments when, more than ever, there is an absolute need to organise the resistance and struggle of workers and trade unions against the neo-liberal plans worldwide. For us, privatisation cannot be tolerated, an extension of markets would have a devastating impact on patient care, particularly poorer patients. We convey our loud solidarity to you in your struggle.

Canadian Labour Congress

On behalf of the 3.4 million workers represented by the CLC, I offer our sincere solidarity and support for the struggle of the TUC and its unions in the fight against your government's health and social care bill. ON the day, where trade union members, the public and patients unite to keep Britain's public health care out of the hands of private, for profit companies, we are reminded that the forces of corporate greed know no boundaries. Our cherished social programmes that have been the driving force in building an equitable society where all citizens benefit regardless of income and class are under attack by the forces of globalisation and privatisation.

We must say and demonstrate, with a strong and united voice both in Britain and in Canada, that no government has a mandate to turn the clock back to a time when quality health care depends on the size of your wallet or the limit on your credit card. And to those politicians in both our countries that want to turn back the clock - we say to you - your reckoning will come at election time.

The Canadian Labour Congress unites with you in support of quality public health care, delivered by health care workers with fair pay and benefits who are committed to a strong NHS accountable to the people of Britain.

Ghana Trades Union Congress

The Ghana Trades Union Congress has learnt with disquiet attempts being made to enact a new law that would privatise the National Health Scheme (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK).

The Ghana Trades Union Congress has reviewed literature on the new development and is profusely convinced that the current Bill which seeks to push through competition and markets on to the NHS by allowing the private sector to take over the delivery of NHS, has a high propensity to debilitate healthcare delivery in the UK.

The Ghana Trades Union Congress is equally concerned that privatizing NHS in the UK will worsen the care available to patients, imperil the working lives NHS employees, with the quality of training and their terms and conditions also likely to suffer.

We believe that the core values of NHS to meet the needs of everyone irrespective of gender, wealth, tribe, age, religion; free access to healthcare services at the point of delivery; and basing healthcare delivery on clinical needs rather than on ability to pay, are still very relevant and must therefore not be tampered with.

The Ghana Trades Union Congress, therefore, unequivocally, throws its fullest support behind any action that would be taken by health workers as well as all well meaning people, both British and other persons residing in the UK, to prevent the privatization of healthcare delivery in the UK.

We wish you success in any manifestation you may wish to embark upon.

Let's save our NHS!

Long Live the NHS!

Long Live Health Professionals!

Long Live Trade Unions!

Long Live Ghana TUC

Long Live BTUC!

Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions

We wish you solidarity and support on your campaign against the privatization of the National Health Service. With no difference to other necessities in life, medical service is a basic need for everyone and the government has an indisputable responsibility to provide such a service to the public. When promoting privatization, officials are always keen to make promises to quell public anxieties and concerns. Time and time again history tells us that these are nothing but hollow promises.

New Zealand: NZCTU

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions sends wishes of solidarity to UK workers and unions today as you mobilise against private sector involvement in the NHS. Access to affordable acceptable and quality health care is a fundamental human right .The risks of privatisation in health care are extreme. Health care is not a private commodity to be bought if you can afford it and be deprived of if you cannot. Privatisation of health care leads to income generation for companies whose interest is not about people, but about profits. New Zealand trade unionists salute you today as you Say NO to privatisation of health care and YES to human rights and accessible and affordable health care.