Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/649/10717
From The Socialist newspaper, 1 December 2010
Coventry council - stop job cuts
"WE'RE NOT the back-room, we're the back-bone," was one council worker's comment on Coventry council's proposed redundancies, where the New Labour council is making £101 million cuts over three years.
Rob Windsor, former Socialist Party councillor, Coventry
Even before the general election, the two socialist councillors' votes were the only ones to oppose the then Tory council's £72 million cuts. Now, despite New Labour councillors hypocritically whingeing about the bad Tories, the only councillor to oppose cuts and job losses has been the remaining socialist councillor Dave Nellist.
All services are affected, but areas who fought back have gained some concessions.
The council wants 1,000 voluntary redundancies, with a pay-off of around £8,000. And for those workers left, there will be £15 million of pay cuts over the next three years.
The entire council workforce faces two choices. Either get involved in the fight against redundancy and unsubtle shoves towards the door - or face obliteration at the hands of a Tory government and a Labour council.
Socialist councillor Dave Nellist has called for no cuts and the council to use a combination of borrowing and use of reserves to "buy time" whilst building a mass campaign to stop cuts in government grant. This would involve meetings in every community and workplace, linked with other areas, to kick-start effective opposition aimed at the Tory-Fib Dem coalition.
Only Socialist Party cllr. opposes Coventry cuts
Coventry council's briefing note to its Cabinet on the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), the cuts package that makes huge numbers of staff redundant and slashes services over the next three to four years, said: "...with the exception of councillor Nellist, the Board supported the MTFS and did not wish to put forward any [amendments] for consideration."
The Socialist Party should be proud to be 'the exception' when all other parties, including the Labour council, are proposing and implementing cuts!
Unison steward, Coventry
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In The Socialist 1 December 2010:
Youth Fight for Education
Young people lead fight against cuts
We can win: student struggle must escalate
Socialist Party editorial
Unity - but not unity of the graveyard
How can an anti-cuts movement be built? Coalition of Resistance conference report
Anti-cuts campaign
Riot police called to Lewisham town hall lobby
Irish working class in huge show of defiance
Fight against cuts continues to grow
Coventry council - stop job cuts
NHS walk-in centre saved, but campaign continues
Anti-racism
Nuneaton protest against racist EDL
The Socialist Interview
Len McCluskey speaks to The Socialist: Building workers' confidence
Socialist Party workplace news
PCS: Vote 'yes' for action against cuts
London Underground strike most solid so far
Wales TUC leadership tries to stifle action to stop the cuts
International socialist news and analysis
North Korean artillery attack raises tensions
Portugal: 'Biggest strike action ever'
Climate change
Climate change: Socialist planning needed to avert a global catastrophe
Readers' comments
Our health - A market for big business
Bankers: The new untouchables?
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