Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/652/10867
From The Socialist newspaper, 5 January 2011
March together, win together: students and workers join the demonstration in Manchester on 29 January
The public sector union PCS joins students protesting outside parliament on Day X as tuition fees debated, photo Suzanne Beishon (Click to enlarge)
As a Christmas present to the bankers and big-business, the Con-Dem government voted through the tripling of tuition fees and have now stopped processing new claims for Education Maintenance Allowance. When the billionaires say 'cut!', the government asks 'how deep?'
Jethro Waldron, YFJ colleges organiser
The Con-Dems thought that students were apathetic and wouldn't fight back, and deliberately chose us to be the first victims of the cuts. They have been proved wrong. 2011 will see the continuation and the stepping-up of student protests and occupations across the country.
But the student movement cannot stand alone in this struggle. The government is not just after our right to education, but is moving in to attack the whole of the working class. Our urgent priority must be to link the student movement to the wider anti-cuts movement.
The fight against these cuts is the fight of our lives. We are not just taking on the Con-Dem coalition, but the international capitalist class who demand vicious cuts from all governments. Only a united fightback of students and workers will stop them in their tracks.
The civil servants union PCS is organising a demonstration against youth unemployment on Saturday 29 January in Manchester. This will coincide with the TUC rally against youth unemployment at the same location. The demonstration is backed by the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign.
It is important for students to attend and build for this march. Rising unemployment and job cuts will make it increasingly difficult for young people to find work once they have left education. The fight of young unemployed people and young workers is also our fight too.
We must also use this demonstration to build links between student campaigns and the wider labour movement at both local and national level. This is an excellent opportunity to start broadening the fightback as early in 2011 as possible.
To defeat the government and preserve our right to free education we must play to win. We cannot afford to separate our movement from the wider struggle against the cuts.
This is why we need a maximum turnout of students in Manchester on 29 January. This demonstration can become an important marker in the building of a strong, united fightback of students and the wider working class. When we organise and strike together, we will win together!
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In The Socialist 5 January 2011:
National Shop Stewards Network
We'll resist Cameron's 'hard times'
NSSN anti-cuts conference: Trade unionists to debate the way forward
A real strategy to fight the cuts
Socialist Party youth and students
29 January demonstration in Manchester: Students and young workers unite
Socialist Party feature
2011: a year of sharpening struggle
Socialist Party news and analysis
Rail operators profit from commuter misery
Northern Ireland water crisis: Privatisation agenda wrecks service utility
NHS cutbacks - health bosses and government to blame
Tommy Sheridan trial - guilty verdict is a sham
Private ownership, public pollution
Socialist Party workplace news and analysis
Birmingham bin workers fight back
More pay strikes at Newsquest papers
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition conference on 22 January 2011
Trade unions must fight for agency workers' rights
Obituaries
Tribute to John Macreadie, trade unionist and socialist fighter
Grunwick: leader of historic strike dies
Socialist Party review
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