The Socialist 21 April 2010

Stop these savage cuts: support the socialist alternative

Young people facing a fight for their future

National Union of Students conference: Campaign needed against fees and cuts

Left candidates excluded from media

Big business as usual for Liberal Democrats

TV debate - Party leaders compete for the same policies

Volcanic eruption brings travel chaos: Planned and integrated transport system vital

Planes, trains and automobiles

Cameron turns back clock on women's rights

Banks use microloans to fleece poor

Fast news

Doncaster - Jarvis's vicious sackings and workers' fightback

Portsmouth North: "An ordinary guy to represent ordinary workers"

Lewisham councillors' record

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

Coventry: Standing up for public services

Colne Valley / Huddersfield: Kirklees' only fighting councillor

Spelthorne: "The trade union candidate guy"

A chance to put your questions to your local Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidates.

Why the BNP offers no way forward for working class people

Anti-BNP protest

Progressive Workers Federation of Pakistan founded

Sri Lanka parliamentary elections: Rajapaksa's clan consolidates its rule

National Care Service - fact or fiction?

1936 - A play about the Olympics

Vote to boycott SATs

Civil service dispute continues

Fighting cuts at Coventry council

Strike ballot at Manchester Metropolitan University

Unison health conference

Laundry workers fight closure

Dover trade unions against privatisation

National Shop Stewards Network 2010 conference:

Previous issues, etc

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Fighting cuts at Coventry council

Workers in street cleansing and grounds maintenance at Coventry City council have voted unanimously to ballot for industrial action.

Union members are angry about the imposition of changes through a 'Fundamental Service Review' that will see people worse off in pay and shift arrangements.

The new merged service is the brainchild of new chief executive Martin 'Slasher' Reeves, and forms part of the cuts agenda that will see £72 million of 'savings' over the next three years.

This is the same Reeves who recently criticised Coventry people for lacking 'ambition'. Easy to say when you are on £175,000 per year, when many council workers are on around £15,000!

This review has already been lodged as an official dispute by the union but the council panel, unsurprisingly, found in favour of the employers.

Rob Windsor, Socialist Party councillor for St Michael's said: "We fully support the street cleaners and grounds maintenance workers... Myself and Dave Nellist were the only councillors to vote against the cuts of £72 million and will continue to do all we can to organise and support any campaign against attacks on the council workforce."

The three main council unions, Unison, Unite and GMB, along with other unions such as the teachers' union, the NUT, need to organise across the council in defence of our members. Meetings should be held to build up networks of stewards and new activists.

Regionally and nationally we need a coordinated campaign, linking up with other public service unions to prepare for action to demand proper funding of our services and to stop the attacks on our public sector.