Manchester council swings the axe

YET AGAIN Manchester city council are welcoming New Labour to the city for Brown's 'coronation'. Last time they blew millions of pounds on "security" for these unwanted guests. This latest shindig won't come cheap either. But when it comes to things working-class people really need, the council swings the axe.

Hugh Caffrey

Cuts to the health service still loom, and the Labour council has done nothing about it.

Even Liberal and Tory councillors in Lancashire have done more to scrutinise these cuts! Labour councillors just hope we won't notice.

The "independent review" of proposed cuts to mother and baby units has finished gathering evidence and will make recommendations to the government soon. Campaigners should hope for the best but prepare for the worst, and be ready to resist if any closures are proposed.

Cuts to Children's Services are on the way: just after receiving £millions of extra money from the government, the council announced 10% of staff would be made redundant.

Across Manchester the housing is being turned over to associations, which use cowboy contractors to cut costs.

Behind all this stands the government, for whom the councillors are happy to be lackeys and hatchet-men/women.

Ultimately, Gordon Brown has held the purse strings and set the rules for local government, and we are expected to bear the bitter fruits of his policies.

But working-class people are fighting back. Socialist Party members throughout Greater Manchester have been fighting cuts to the NHS, alongside many campaigners from communities and unions.

In Wythenshawe we are helping tenants hold the housing association to account.

In Salford we have campaigned against reductions to bus services, some of which have now been reinstated.

Across Greater Manchester together with other council workers we launched "Manchester Unity Stewards" to unite workplace struggles for decent pay, against job losses and resisting privatisation.

If you agree with what we're doing, get in touch or come to our next meeting.

We meet every Tuesday, 7pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount St., Manchester.

More info 07769 611 320 or manc_sfe@hotmail.com.

Manchester Unity Stewards and Activists Group (MUST) meeting

After Unison conference and NEC elections, how to fight pay cuts, privatisation and job losses.

Rank-and-file body MUST unites stewards and activists from across Greater Manchester to discuss the way forward.

Next meeting: Wednesday 4 July, 7pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.

More info 07793 738 389 or must-activists@hotmail.co.uk