The Socialist 8 June 2011

We are fighting back!

Economic crisis in 'them and us' Britain

Cuts in jobs and services: We are fighting back!

Birmingham: city of a thousand cuts

Human rights service staff defend jobs

CWU conference - unanimous call for 24-hour general strike

Strike action against pensions attack at Sheffield university

Mood for action among Unison members in Waltham Forest

Saltend dispute: lessons for future struggles

Fighting the anti-strike legislation

'Slutwalk' protests

Sylvia Pankhurst: Everything is possible

'Butcher of Bosnia' faces trial

Tamil Solidarity: important resolution agreed at the European Parliament

Protests grow as young people say: 'We want a future!'

Southern Cross - Social care on the brink

Vulnerable patients abused at privately run Bristol hospital

End the 'insane' pursuit of oil profit

Fight Welsh universities' fees hike

NHS: Lansley must resign!

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Cuts in jobs and services

We are fighting back!

Half-million strong TUC demo, central London, 26 March 2011, against the government's cuts , photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

Workers across the country are facing cuts. In Birmingham, not only are 7,000 council jobs under threat but the Con-Dem council wants to offshore the IT department to super-exploit workers in India.

Nick Chaffey explains here how council workers in Southampton are setting an important example by fighting back against the council cuts and building united action with striking hospital workers.

Four sections of Southampton city council workers, refuse workers, street cleaners, toll workers and parking wardens, will march through the city on Monday 13 June against pay and job cuts. They will be marching with hundreds of striking cleaners from Southampton general hospital.

Unite member and parking warden Mark Humphries explained why he is on strike: "Parking wardens stand to lose £1,000 a year, for a supervisor it's £1,300. With an attack on our pensions, rent up 6%, electricity and gas up 9% it adds up to £2,000.

"That's 10% of my money. To say it's better to take a pay cut and keep your job, you'd be mad. Company directors are doing well. There's lots of money around. We're a scapegoat."

Refuse workers showed their feelings when Tory council leader Royston Smith turned up at the depot - the place has never emptied so fast!

Ian Woodland, Unite officer, spoke at a mass meeting: "You have the full backing of Unite, we will not be starved back to work." Ian also reported that everywhere bin workers have been leafletting around the city, the support from local people has been overwhelming.

At the hospital NHS cleaners employed by Compass/Medirest are on strike for seven days, the latest in a series of strikes.

Unison steward Jo Spear explains why:
"Our members are angry over unpaid wages and sick pay. But our dispute is also with Medirest over a lack of equipment and unfair treatment. Members are currently supporting an official 'work to rule' which just shows how much that goes on is wrong. Compass is now searching catering staff and cleaners at work, accusing our members of stealing food and equipment. I'd like to know how you hide a broom handle in your hand bag!

"No one's interested in patient care or workers, it's all about profits. Recently Medirest has taken on staff with zero hour contracts. Many have joined the union and will be out on strike next week."

There is a growing mood of determination and confidence that workers have to take action to fight the employers. Support is growing for a full council strike on 30 June, alongside the national pension strike by the NUT, PCS, UCU and ATL public sector unions, if the council has not backed down by then.

Hundreds will join the demonstration on Monday, be there if you can. Send a message of support and donation if you can't.