At aunion branch mecting tho members wero instructed not ta fill up the new form, and this instruction was loyally obeyed by the whole of the female staff and by the majority of the male staff, On April 4th the union solicitor, Ur. Booth, had an interview with Iir, Gell, but no compromise was affected. jiven arbitration would not be accepted. In view of the "die hard" attitude of the visiting committee, the union officials and members of the strike committee decided that they had no option but to accept the challenge and a "stay in" strike of the fée2le staff was ordered from 7 aom. on April llth. In view of the defection of many of the male staff, who had succumbed to official intimidation, it was decided that no action be taken on the male side of the institution in the mean time.
Tho instructions issued by the union to the nurses included the following pointss-—
(1) The patients welfare and safoty must always be the first consideration.
(2) All orders received (other than medical orders) from the t:ental hospital officials mst be disregarded. Purely modical orders must be obeyed. In other cases the instructions of the union officials are paramount.
3) Patients will be dressed, washed, fed and safeguarded as usuale
4) There mst’ be no personal violence offered to nor any interference with officials of the hospital or non-unionistss nor must the patients be incited to commit acts of violence. . :
to be concluded in ths next issue/