Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/650/10768
From The Socialist newspaper, 8 December 2010
'We need fighting unions to halt cuts'
NEATH AND Port Talbot local authority has reached an agreement with the majority of unions, including Unison, representing its 7,000 workforce on implementing massive cuts.
Socialist Party members in Unison
The deal confirms what Unison Socialist Party members have been predicting and many activists have feared, that Unison's leadership, with some exceptions, is prepared to concession bargain away hard fought for terms and conditions in the forlorn hope that this will protect jobs.
The agreement includes a pay cut for most staff of up to 2% on top of a three-year pay freeze already announced, reductions in unsocial hours and overtime payment and this is just the start.
Instead of providing leadership and opposing these cuts massive concessions on terms and conditions are conceded without a fight. This will give the green light to local authority employers to go for gold.
Whilst the phrase 'dented shield' has not been used by the union bureaucracy in Wales and nationally, this is their policy in all but name. Concede on terms and conditions, batten down the hatches and wait for the New Labour knight in shining armour to arrive to save the day.
Aside from the fact that New Labour before the general election was planning a similar attack on the public sector, our members can't wait five years for a reprieve.
Neath and Port Talbot is a Labour council which threatened to sack the whole workforce. We need union leaders that will stand up to the employer, the Welsh Assembly and the Con-Dem government.
The cuts to terms and conditions in Neath and Port Talbot, massive though they are, will not protect jobs. In many areas of Wales anti-cuts campaigns have been set up to organise the fightback. The students have shown the way in fighting back. We need to link with students, other unions and community campaigns to build a campaign that will defeat the cuts.
- We call on members to vote to reject the cuts
- Fight every attack on terms and conditions
- For a union leadership that stands up to the employer and mobilises members to stop the cuts
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 8 December 2010:
Fighting cuts and fees
The fight goes on against fees and cuts
Youth Fight for Education
Youth Fight for Education launch
Youth Fight for Jobs conference report
30 November: student day of action on cuts and fees
Con-Dems can be defeated: Welsh Assembly backs down on EMA and fees
Anti-cuts campaign
Tories' secret job cuts plan exposed
'We need fighting unions to halt cuts'
Nottingham march against billionaire tax dodgers
National Shop Stewards Network
All-Britain Anti-Cuts Campaign to be launched
Building the anti-cuts movement
Scotland: Unison votes for fighting cuts strategy
TUSC calls election campaign conference
Keep the post public campaign
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
Housing under attack: Ripping off the roof over our heads
Socialist Party NHS campaign
Medirest health workers need help to fight multinational
Campaign stops health bosses' closure plan
Don't let profit become the bottom line in care
Anti-racism
International socialist news and analysis
Protesters demand halt to opencast coal mining in Bangladesh
Egypt's regime perpetrates a massive election fraud
Warmonger Rajapaksa forced to abandon his Oxford Union speech
Kazakhstan - a repressive and corrupt state
Home | The Socialist 8 December 2010 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
