Coventry: Hands off our youth services!

400 Coventry Community and Youth Workers Union (CYWU section of Unite) workers and supporters demonstrate against cuts, photo Coventry Socialist Party

AROUND 400 people marched through Coventry last Saturday to protest against severe cuts by the Tory council in children's and young people's services. (see article in last week's The Socialist)

Local campaigners, children and parents, were joined by trade unionists from around the country to support the demonstration called by the Community and Youth Workers Union (Cywu) section of Unite.

As pointed out by the union, this will mean job losses and a hugely detrimental effect on the lives of the children who use the services, such as after school clubs.

The demonstration concluded with a rally where speakers outlined the situation.

Doug Nicholls, national sec-retary of the Cywu, explained the background to the campaign. He also pointed out the disgraceful situation where, because of the privatisation of Coventry city centre, the demo was forced to wander round the back streets.

Bringing solidarity greetings from the local branch of the National Union of Teachers, Jane Nellist raged against the banks being given a blank cheque from the government whilst vital public services are cut.

The audience were treated to the bizarre spectacle of a New Labour councillor addressing them as 'comrades', as she talked about the actions of the Tory council.

400 Coventry Community and Youth Workers Union (CYWU section of Unite) workers and supporters demonstrate against cuts, photo Coventry Socialist Party

Socialist Party Councillor Rob Windsor and Communications Workers Union national executive member, Judy Griffiths, outlined how it is the policies of the Labour government that encourage local councils to make the cuts and give them the 'legislative cover' for their actions, for example through the Gershon review.

Steve Boscott of the Prison Officers Association brought greetings from his union and talked about its battle with privatisation - he also made the telling point that cuts in services for young people can lead to increases in crime at a later stage.

The Socialist Party were warmly received on the demonstration, with over 60 copies of The Socialist newspaper sold, and new sig-natories gained for the Campaign for a New Workers' Party. Names were also collected for the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign.

Socialists in Cywu/Unite and the wider union movement will continue to campaign for a united fight against cuts and privatisation, and in defence of the public sector.

Socialist Party member, Coventry