Letters: NYC nurses strike highlights the need for coordination

Think of what could be done if health workers across the services here coordinated? (Photo: @NYCMayor on X)

Over 15,000 nurses were out on strike in New York City last week.

It’s brilliant that they had the support of socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani on their picket lines. It would have been brilliant to have local councillors and MPs on our nurses’ pickets three years ago.

But the real power comes from the collective action of workers, not from politicians.

Something the nurses in New York have shown is that a strike can be more successful if it’s centred around patient safety.

There’s often this narrative with medical workers’ strikes that they’re putting patients’ at risk. We saw this in December with the resident doctors in the BMA union strike.

But nurses cannot keep patients’ safe if they’re not safe.

It’s not just medical risk that nurse put themselves in at work—it’s the risk of violence.

There is a huge issue of dignity and respect in the NHS.

Our wages are so low that working in the NHS is a luxury few can afford. People are trapped because they’ve bought into pension schemes.

And most of us actually want to fight for public services.

One of the really impressive things in New York is the visibility.

The BMA had a one day, one hospital, one hour picket for the resident doctors’ strike.

We need visibility and coordination to send a powerful message.

Think of what could be done if health workers across the services here coordinated?

We saw this with our outsourcing dispute in Dorset. We threatened to have 1,700 workers out. The services would have ground to a halt.

Healthcare unions in Britain should coordinate.

I can guarantee if we all went out at 9am, there would be an offer on the table by 12 noon.

Carrie, Dorset

Maccabi ban must be upheld

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is trying to oust the Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police.

This is based on misinformation and hostility to those opposing Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Mahmood claims that police gave in to pressure from an Islamist mob when it banned Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from a match at Villa Park, Birmingham.

But a five-minute search on YouTube will provide plenty of evidence of Maccabi fans in Amsterdam tearing up Palestine flags, assaulting Muslims and chanting “death to Arabs”.

These “innocent” football fans, within days of the Villa Park ban, had their local derby cancelled due to “public disorder and violent riots”.

The real crime here was letting the match go ahead.

I joined thousands protesting the match.

Mahmood stated she has lost confidence in the Chief Constable.

I have news for Mahmood. She has lost the confidence of Birmingham citizens by defending the racist thugs of Maccabi over the communities of Birmingham.

David Hughes, Birmingham

Don’t let fascist Ukip use Nazi iconography

Ukip has proposed a new logo—the Nazi Iron Cross.

Far from being the “new right”, as is written on this logo, they are reviving fascist aesthetics disguised as Christian piety.

The new logo, submitted to the Electoral Commission, features a black cross with a spear running through it, with the words “Ukip the new right”.

Clearly, this is another example of how Ukip has veered further rightwards.

It follows their calls for “remigration” and banning the burqa, plus being part of the protests attacking refugee hotels.

This change in propaganda is following the same narrative as the fascist Tommy Robinson, who has recently been preaching Christian nationalism.

Ukip’s use of Christian iconography tries to legitimise their far right ideas using the Christian faith, which is something we cannot accept.

We can’t let them hide behind any disguise, but instead call them out to be what they are—fascists and racists.

Issy Beauvoisin, Leeds

Britain’s coup in Iran

British people should know the history of our government in Iran.

In 1953 there was a democratic, moderate government in Iran. After it nationalised the oil industry, Britain organised a coup.

Hundreds of people were killed in the streets. The Shah was put into power. The CIA, MI6 and Israel’s Mossad collaborated with citizens.

Britain does not acknowledge any role in the destruction of democracy in Iran.

It is shameful and tragic.

Brendan O’Brien, London