North West marches for end to austerity

Hundreds of trade unionists from across the North West marched in Manchester on Saturday 6 September calling for an “End to Austerity”.

After a march through the city centre, a rally was addressed by union activists including Manchester TUC president Annette Wright, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis, and NUT north west regional secretary Avis Gilmore.

The speakers highlighted the impact of pay cuts, service closures, benefit cuts and sanctions on working class people and challenged Labour to do better.

Upon hearing Prentis issue his latest “ultimatum” to Labour about not taking the unions and working people for granted, one person commented: “Isn’t this all a bit ironic considering we’re in a city where the overwhelmingly Labour council is doing nothing about austerity?”

We support Unison and other unions in calling further days of strike action against pay restraint. But there needs to be action that can win, including further coordinated strikes.

Steve North