Southampton: Sink Tory cuts!

Southampton: Sink Tory cuts!

At mass meetings of Unite and Unison Southampton council workers, it was agreed to carry on with industrial action short of a strike until the ballot result on the council’s latest offer is known. Voting started on 4 November and the Unite shop stewards are recommending a ‘no’ vote.

After the months of sacrifices made by striking council workers, this opportunity to escalate the action must be seized with a resounding NO vote to this pitiful offer. The successful strikes of recent months and the enormous public support have shown that the Tory council’s cuts will not be accepted.

With the 24-hour national public sector strike looming on 30 November, over three million workers will join the fight against the cuts. It will show the massive opposition that is growing to the austerity agenda and will give huge confidence to all those facing the cuts.

It is essential that the connection is made in Southampton between all trade unions, private and public, whose members will suffer the proposed council cuts in reduced services and higher taxes. All must be called on to back the campaign. This means a call for a mass demonstration in the city on a Saturday to mobilise the full backing and support of the trade unions, our communities, youth, students and pensioners against the cuts.

A show of mass support will then give confidence to council workers to support a campaign of escalated strike action to reverse the cuts.

Southampton Socialist Party

Fight the Cuts, Fight for Socialism Rally

Tuesday 6 December, 7.30pm
Sir James Matthews Building, Above Bar, Southampton, SO14 7NN
Speaker: Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party general secretary