The Socialist 6 July 2011 Our fightback can win!  Next time - strike together... 24-hour public sector general strike as next step to beat the Con-Dems Standing up to a weak government Labour - condemned for condemning strike Walkout at Wormwood Scrubs prison 30 June pension strike reports Leaked memo shows government lied over its homeless policies Dilnot report: A disservice to disabled and older people Durham Miners' Gala: Miliband pulls out Stop the racist and divisive EDL Time to defend abortion rights... again Southampton council workers strike on same day as teachers, lecturers and civil servants Birmingham - the fightback begins Leeds Unison members decisively reject the council's final offer Fawley refinery construction engineers summarily sacked Fighting pension cuts and the anti-union laws Successful NSSN meeting in Coventry East Belfast riots: Only united working class action can prevent further attacks Kazakhstan: Striking oil workers attempt to break news blockade All workers: unite to fight for decent jobs High street job cuts: Jane Norman worker speaks out Socialist Students meeting prepares for new term Youth Fight for Jobs: campaign moving forward Day-Mer festival support for 30 June pensions strike Building the socialist alternative on 30 June Socialist Party youth meeting: Successful and insightful PDFs for this issue |
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Home | The Socialist 6 July 2011 | Join the Socialist Party Southampton council workers strike on same day as teachers, lecturers and civil servants Click for gallery. Photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge) Like many cities, last Thursday, 30 June, Southampton was covered by picket lines at colleges, universities and civil service offices. 75% of schools were shut or severely affected by the strike. In addition, selective action at the council continued with refuse workers, street cleaners, toll bridge workers and librarians all out on strike. By lunchtime the 11am rally of over 500 teachers, lecturers and civil servants had swelled to well over 1,000 as hundreds of council workers marched into the Guildhall Square. It combined to create an electric mood of anger and growing determination to defend pay, jobs, pensions and services. Reflecting the importance of the council dispute, with the threat of workers being locked out on Monday 11 July, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis gave a fiery speech attacking the government and saying: "There is an alternative, if the bankers caused this crisis, they should pay" and "if their attack on pensions continues, there should be five million out by the autumn". Unite officer Ian Woodland, whose union members face dismissal on 11 July if they refuse to sign up to new, worse contracts, said: "Our campaign will continue, come what may". Earlier in the day Socialist Party members had visited picket lines across the city to give support and solidarity. PCS members at HMRC and the Home Office reported strong support for action and were in a buoyant mood. UCU members at Tauntons College said the strike had been well supported and the college was closed. At the rally Socialist Party leaflets were well received with unanimous support for our call for a one-day public sector strike. Our stall had a steady stream of people coming up to sign our petition with a number of teachers and young workers filling in 'join' cards. The day gave a glimpse of what is coming. In Southampton, with the threat of mass sackings at the council, events are coming to a head. It is vital that any lockout is met with an escalation of the strike action. This should include a council-wide strike the day of the next full council meeting on Wednesday 13 July. This should be followed with an all-out strike if the council carry through their sackings. Public support for the strike is strong despite rubbish piled high across the city. This support should be mobilised in a mass weekend demonstration with an appeal to workers and the trade unions across the region. The campaign would be given a boost if the Southampton Labour group gave full support to the strike and pledge to reverse all Tory cuts if elected to run the council next May. Southampton Socialist Party continues to give its full and active support to striking council workers. This is the time for bold and resolute action that could see an important victory in the growing battles in council offices across the country. Nick Chaffey, Southampton Socialist PartyUpdate on 5 July - the action escalatesA mass meeting on 4 July agreed to escalate the action. From 11 July nearly 500 more council workers will be on strike, Unite and Unison members. This includes 13 Port Health Officers, which has the potential to bring one of the busiest ports in the country to a halt. The City will lose an estimated £1 million for every day the port is idle. On 13 July there will be a mass demonstration of council workers to the council meeting. Assemble 1pm in East/Andrews park, for a march to the Civic Centre. This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 4 July 2011 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist as Southampton - city-wide public sector strike. In this issue 30th June strike and after
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