-- TRlBOT RKE~ . GRLLERY BROW~ · u~iver$ity of Edinburgh, Old College THE sou+~~~~¥~~djo\'\'~~~svL STATIONERS 6 January-3 February WE'RE BETTER PATTERNS OF INTENTION Ferguson Mooney Thomson T ues-Sat 10 am-5 pm Admission Free Subsidised by the Scottish Arts Council Glasgow Herald of the Year thursday, february 1, INTERNATIONAL Arts: :China's backlash Portraits by Swann.ell against stUdents 16 PAGE. FILM ,SUPPLEMENT INSIDE. Edinburgh Supports Strike by Steve Martin At present, public donations and union levy are keeping the EDINBURGH'S city centre men solvent and are sufficiently was brought to a standstill on high to fund wages, at 80% of the Tuesday lunchtime when an average take-home pay, for all of Edinburgh's ambulance staff, estimated 1,000 people joined none of whom are now reviewing a march in support of the any income whatsover from the ambulance wokers' 11 per Scottish Ambulance Service. cent pay claim. Despite this unprecedented The march, from Waterloo generosity, reduced incomes and Place, along · Princes Street, general tensions are leading to culminating in a rally at the George increased domestic problems, in a Street Assembly Rooms, profession where the divorce rate comprised large numbers of is in any case high. Mr McCourt pensioners and trade unionists as cited at least two cases of serious well as ambulancemen themselves. domestic difficulties, directly Those who managed to get into atributable to the dispute. the crowded rally heard an Nonetheless the crews and their impassioned speech from local MP families are bolstered by opinion Nigel Griffiths, who blamed the polls such as one carried out last g~>Vemment for prolonging the week which revealed that 80% of d1spute and urged the Primne the public supported their 10% Minister to "spend time with the wage claim, and that 60% would ambulance crews and less time with support an all-out stoppage, . television crews, the next time she should a national strike ballot visits the scene of a disaster". take place. They put this level of The best reception, however, support down to the tactics they was reserved for Alan Stewart, a have used and to general public shop steward at Momingside discontent at current wage levels. ambulance depot, who received a The battle for the nation's standing ovation before and after a backing has displayed what Colin speech in which he thanked the McCourt describes as "a new general public for "their incredible unionism" . The ambulancemen's generosity in this time of crisis ~ ' and chief spokesman, Roger Poole, suggested that a victory in the long­ has rejected the adversial stance running dispute could lead to a epitomised by the miner's leader "renewal of the spirit of the welfare Arthur Scargill, preferring to state". imitate the calm, considered tones The march and rally were part of . of the his management foes. a nationwide day of action which brought similar events to Dundee, The current levels of pay, which Abedeen, Dumfries and Glasgow, EDINBURGH was cata­ their Friday shifts as usual, being he said were propaganda attempts the government is prepared to where a mass rally was addressed pulted to the centre of the willing to answer calls for help by management to use the death increase by 6.5% have attracted by George Galloway MP and Jane from the police and public, but of a child last Friday morning ~o widespread criticism. At present a McKye of the local trades council, ambulance dispute 1st Friday arrived to find their vehicles discredit the men's case. He fully qualified accident and and in London where Robin Cook, when the city's staff were immobilised. It is therefore incor­ added that both Lothian Police emet:gency team earns £10,093 pa the Livingstone MP and Shadow effectively "locked out" by rect, the crews claim, to label last and the child's father had publicly an411Wse drivers on the patient Health spokesman, delivered a management, leaving opera­ weekend's actions as a "strike" stated tharthe ambulam:emen transport duties, considerably speech. tion of emergency cover to since at no point did they with~ were in no way to blame for the less. One of Tuesday's actions was the the police. draw tMir labour. tragedy. These rates are forcing many call for a 15-minute solidarity strike Meanwhile plans are now staff to take part-time jobs to sup­ by all workers at 12 noon. Whilst The move was brought about by The staff at Brunswick Street underway to establish an plement their earnings, even there was little sign of disruption to the decision of local ambulance emphasise that their unions were emergency service, using unpaid though this is strictly prohibited shops, restaurants· and transport controllers last Thursday, to locked in negotiations with the ambulancemen under the by official regulations. One Edin­ services, in Edinburgh at least, return to normal working, which Scottish Ambulance service from auspices of Lothian Regional burgh ambulanceman, recently !hose participating in the stoppage according to Colin McCourt, a Thursday night, but their Council. Once this is up and run­ discivered driving a taxi on his rest mcluded the city's postmen, local shop steward at the Brunswick attempts to find a solution were ning the city's crews intend to day was subsequently severely government officials and students. Street depot, "pulled the rug from thwarted, they claim by manage­ severe their remaining links with cautioned and reprimanded by · Some 200 students responded to under our feet." ment intransigence. They point to the Scottish Ambulance Service, management. their decision on Saturday to a call from EUSA for a midday Union meetings were then until the dispute is resolved. Whilst the twenty week long authorise twelve local staff to pro­ lecture boycott in Bristo Square, faced with a choice, between one The sense of relief amongst the dispute is beginning to take its vide skeleton emergency cover, and according to the Union set of union guidelines which pro­ staff at this new development is hold on morale, Colin McCourt . on a voluntary and non-payment Secretary, Martijn Quinn, £64 was . hi bit staff in dispute to take orders evident, with Colin McCourt remains convinced that "We are basis as a measure of their desire raised for the ambulancemen. A from controllers receiving full commenting "without it, we could going to win this di pute, pro- - to minimalise any harm to the spokeman for NUS Scotland · pay, or to follow a different set lose the dispute and we don't want vided we can stay united," and public. welcomed student involvement in which insist on the provision of to see anyone suffering," should they lose, he and many the dispute as proof "that we are accident and emergency cover. Spe;king to Student on Mon­ although they stress that it will be others, predict that hundred of not just living in our own little The crews, having opted for the day, Mr McCourt described him­ no substitute for the full pre-dis­ ambulancemen will leave the er­ world". former, did however report for self as "totally disgusted" at what pute service. vice. 2 thursday, february 1, 1990 news Student ,Galbraith comes to EU · · . the ·introduction of the welfare Western advice that they could In ~ts ~peech •. tt _Is cl~ that state. A return to the Smithian possibly use or should ever con- Galbratth ts contmumg. hts cher- f ree mark e t ,.ts some th.mg we m· template" he urgently stressed that. · ished role as watchdog against un- the West do not have, would not "On one step ther~ - should be no thinking acceptance of popular tolerate and could not survive. hesitation. That is for the Western perceptions. He warns against the Ours is a mellow government . countries and Japan to come "simplistic ideology" that is shap- protected life." ' promptly and generously to the ing the current discussion of the · · assistance of the countries now in upheaval in ·Eastern Europe. This · Western government's' success the process of liberalization. This simplistic ideology pictures a ·hinges on their ability to promote is the moment of need. Freedom "starkly bipolar world." On the economic growth, prevent infla- must not be seen to have a heavy one side is communism and on Lion, anad limit unemployment It economic price." Galbraith insits the other is capitalism. Each of is to this type of government that that the resources are available in these sides exist in their pure the Eastern European countries the West. These resources will not unadulterated form. Politicians, should aspire, says Galbraith. be freed, however, until the West academicians, and joumalits all They should seek not capitalism releases itself from the hold of the -· seem to believe that communism but "the modem state with a large, burueacratick truth that the mili­ has failed ~d that capitalism ~as indispensable, mellowing and sta- · tary establishment and budget emerged trmmphant. They predtct bilizing role for government." must be perpetually expanded. If that the affected Eastern European · the United States would make one countriesand eventually the Soviet Socialism failed because it less bomber and send the freed re- Un~~nw~ll ~ake. their ';!ay to could not produce enough con- source~ to Eastern Europe, these the captta!.tst m~vana, s~y~ sumer goods and could not con- c~untnes' transition ~ould cer­ - ~alb~att~. The p~1m~ es~~nttal .. tend with the "special problems" tamly be eased, Galbratth asserts. m. thts h.n.e of thmkmg ~s that- of agriculture, says Galbraith. ~astern Europe an~ th~ Soviet Proffessor J.K. thts transition be complete. ~ socialism was also weakened by Umon are now expenencmg one· ..........-..- . Galbr~ith views the r~cent its development of a sprawling o~ the greatest moments in their by A:tnc Stuldherer criticize popular opinion of politi­ cal and economic phenomena.