The Socialist 23 June 2010

No to Budget’s pay and benefit cuts

Stop budget attacks with mass action

Budget cuts hitting the poorest hardest

Young people: fight for your future!

Youth speak for jobs at UCU union rally

Anti-EDL protest

Protesting at Iain's Dickensian Society

The role of the NSSN in the battle to defend public sector jobs and services

Budget Day: workers' responses

Fightback to stop the cuts - public meetings

Bloody Sunday: Innocent protesters murdered by the British army in 1972

PCS union rejects 'inevitable' cuts

Unison election: Over 42,000 votes for socialist candidate

Unison leadership: Lack of anti-cuts strategy

Fighting cuts in Nottingham: Save the WAP day centre

Workplace news in brief

National Shrewsbury 24 Justice Campaign March and Rally

Refugee and Migrant Justice: Save this vital service!

Afghan war

Coventry rally against public sector cuts

Stop attacks on services for the vulnerable in Nuneaton

Birmingham: Growing anger against cuts

Save South Leeds Pool

Why BP should be nationalised

How deep is Britain's media crisis?

Ethnic conflict explodes in Kyrgyzstan

Donate to aid Greek socialists

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/630/9872

Google search the site	Printable version	email to friend

Home | The Socialist 23 June 2010 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop

Coventry rally against public sector cuts

Unite in the West Midlands held a 'Community and Youth Rally' in Coventry on 19 June. Originally organised to support youth workers in Coventry whose pay, terms and conditions had been attacked by the previous Tory council, it was broadened to take into account the onslaught of the Con-Dem government against the working class.

The youth workers led the way with a number of them outlining just how little they were rewarded for a socially important job, working with young people. Unfortunately, the new leader of Coventry council, Labour's John Mutton, was not very helpful. Using the same arguments as George Osborne, he said when Labour came into office, the cupboard was bare! So he could not make any commitments towards them or any other workers! Neither did he rule out more cuts.

Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey made a fighting speech, blaming the banks and capitalism for the crisis, not ordinary working people. He urged union members to fight back.

Youth worker and Socialist Party member Teresa Chalcroft reminded the rally that Labour in Liverpool had fought for jobs, houses and services in the1980s and Coventry council should do the same. Socialist councillor Dave Nellist urged Unite to support the motion being put before the TUC from the PCS chair Janice Godrich for a TUC demo against the cuts in the autumn. Eric Segal from threatened legal service RMJ also addressed the rally.

With workers in Coventry lobbying the council on 22 June, the stage is set for further struggles in Coventry against cuts and attacks. This would draw on the militant Coventry traditions praised by Len McCluskey in his speech.