Ian Burge Archive | ETOL Main Page
From Militant, No. 504, 23 May 1980, p. 2.
Transcribed by Iain Dalton.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
The labour movement suffered a tragic loss on Sunday 18th May, with the premature death of Ian Burge.
Regular readers of Militant would best remember Ian for his excellent contributions on the National Health Service, in which he worked and was an active trade unionist.
Ian’s powers of research were second to none and gave fresh material and new ideas to the movement on the battle against cuts in the Health Service.
Apart from many articles in the paper, Ian was the author of several widely read Militant pamphlets: A Socialist Programme to Save the NHS [1977], Should Nurses Go On Strike? [1979], and recently the excellent Stop the Cuts: Defend the NHS! [1979]. He also wrote a pamphlet putting the case for workers’ control and management in the NHS, Patients First – Or Cuts First?, produced only a few weeks ago by Tower Hamlets Health District JSS Committee.
In Ian’s own words, however “the fight against the cuts is not enough. Bad health is endemic in the society we at present live in and only the socialist transformation of society can provide the conditions for the prevention of ill health.”
Not only a prolific writer for better healthcare and socialist change, Ian was a tireless fighter both in the Labour Party and, as a member of ASTMS, in the hospital unions. At the London Hospital, where he worked, he was secretary of the Joint Shop Stewards’ Committee, a body he helped to form.
He gave unceasing leadership in the movement in the East End of London to defend the Health Service from attacks and closures, and played a prominent part in the battle to save Bethnal Green hospital as a general hospital meeting the needs of the local population.
When called on, Ian also gave valuable advice on many occasions to trade-union activists in the NHS in many other areas of the country.
As a member of the North West Essex Health Board, he unflinchingly gave a lead in heading off the attacks on hospitals in the Harlow area.
Ian first settled in Harlow with his wife Barbara and twin daughters in 1969, and rapidly involved himself in pioneering the influence of Militant in the Harlow area and the Eastern Region as a whole. His family, to which Ian was devoted, was added to by the birth of another daughter, Nancy.
Ian quickly established himself in the Old Harlow Labour Party branch, where he became chairman in the ’70s. His well informed contributions to Harlow CLP’s General Committee meeting were always listened to intently. When Ian was on his feet, the GMC knew that important points and facts were being put forward.
Ian’s flair for new ideas and concepts were not restricted to the health field. He pioneered the use of film slides in informative talks, and made these, and his copious notes, available to any section of the labour movement.
Meticulous attention to detail made him outstanding as an organiser of paper sales. All sellers of Militant in Harlow from the early ’70s had their minds focused on careful accounting for papers. The testament to Ian’s work is that sales of Militant in Harlow rate amongst the best in the country.
His death is a great loss to all who knew him as a comrade, and especially to those who also knew him as a friend. He was friendly and patient with people, often showing his sense of humour, very rarely angry. Ian’s approach was always gentle and generous.
Ian’s political achievements will live on and we will be
building on them. Remember Ian’s own words: “Capitalism kills.
Fight for a socialist world!”
The Militant Editorial Board sends its sincere condolences to his wife, friends and family.
Ian Burge Archive | ETOL Main Page
Last updated: 11 February 2017