Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/728/14932
From The Socialist newspaper, 25 July 2012
Save our jobs: We need a 24-hour general strike
Lobby the TUC in Brighton on 9 September
Wyllie Hume, Sheffield Socialist Party
Since I finished my training as a social worker in Sheffield I have been out of work. But I am not alone, 40% of newly qualified social workers are unemployed and with the Con-Dems' cuts becoming harsher and harsher, the prospect of finding work looks bleak.
I took my first day of strike action ever on 30 November as a student member of Unison because I was angry at how the cuts were making helping people, as a student social worker, impossible. I was worried about finding work in the future as they were laying off social workers in Rotherham where I was working.
On that day there was a great sense of confidence among everyone on the picket lines and on the demonstrations. There was a feeling that we could beat the government. But then that was it! No more action was taken. Everyone knew it would take more than one day to win but the right-wing trade union leaders had other ideas and were quick to sell out.
We need a general strike to bring down the government. We need to strike to defend public services, protect public sector workers' jobs and to demand job creation.
But it's not just the public sector that's under attack - private sector workers are also facing job cuts, pay cuts and pension cuts. We need to show this government that we will not be divided and a 24-hour general strike is needed to do this.
That's why I'm taking part in the National Shop Stewards Network lobby of the TUC conference in Brighton on 9 September - to demand the trade union leadership listens to its membership and calls a general strike that can bring down this rotten government.
Assemble Sunday 9 September 1pm at the Level, Union Road, Brighton. Speakers at the rally include Bob Crow, RMT, Steve Gillan, POA and Mark Serwotka, PCS. For updates and transport information see
www.shopstewards.net
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In The Socialist 25 July 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
On your marks.... Get set.... Fight back!
Outsourcing fails again. For publicly owned and run services!
£13 trillion hidden from tax by super-rich
Not-guilty verdict in Ian Tomlinson case
International socialist news and analysis
Kazakhstan - Workers struggle against bloody, corrupt regime
Spain's austerity government is facing revolt from below
Miners light up Madrid and show the way to struggle!
Socialist history
1972: dockers face down the Tory government
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Austerity Games highlights plight of young people
Save our jobs: We need a 24-hour general strike
Pre-emptive arrests: "straight out of 1984"
Stop NHS cuts & privatisation
Kick private profiteers out of the NHS
Virgin vultures swoop on vulnerable people's services
Leicester: Not one cut in the NHS
Kirkby campaigners get support
Olympic protest as South London Healthcare trust forced into administration
Socialist Party workplace news
Olympic victory for London bus workers
Solidarity with PCS members fighting to defend services
RMT demo in Portsmouth against Condor's 'sweatships'
Socialist Party review
TV review: "What have the Olympics done for me?"
Socialist Party appeal & news
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