Southampton

Fighting cuts and privatisation

"I LOST £5,000 working for that lot in my last job!" was the response from one council worker on the mass lobby of the latest council meeting in Southampton. Hundreds of UNISON members had followed a day's council-wide strike with a noisy blast at councillors arriving at the meeting.

Care workers have recently taken action over pay cuts and there is anger on pensions and budget cuts. Now there is the threat of privatisation, by Capita taking over 700 council workers' jobs. UNISON members are now discussing taking further action in advance of the May elections.

As if all this was not enough, the council has now announced its intention to follow the closure of four secondary schools with two new schools to be run by the private sector.

Discussions between teachers and education workers are taking place on what steps to take next. Serious consideration must be given to including these issues in the current campaign and preparing for these members to be included in future action.

Now is the ideal time to maximise pressure on all council parties to step back from pay cuts, job cuts and privatisation. Linking with other unions such as the PCS, who are considering taking action on May Day, would strengthen the campaign. Members of Save Our Services received positive support from council workers for the idea of standing in the local elections.

Southampton Socialist Party