Thousands of trade unionists march in London against cuts, photo Suzanne Beishon

Thousands of trade unionists march in London against cuts, photo Suzanne Beishon   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

On Wednesday 20 October gasps of anguish and shock could be heard as workers and young people realised just how cruel the Con-Dem cuts would be. The sick, the young, the vulnerable, the low-paid, the elderly, the poor, and of course the working class will suffer enormously if this government’s axe is allowed to fall.

But on Saturday 23 October tens of thousands of trade unionists and young people marched through towns and cities across Britain in clear opposition to all cuts. With trade union banners and placards to the fore, these protests provided a taste of the working class movement that could be built. Speaker after speaker made it clear that these early demonstrations were only the start of what we need.

The London march voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion put forward by the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) which outlines the next steps that need to be taken. The Socialist calls on all our readers to put this resolution to every campaign body as soon as possible.

As the NSSN says: “The TUC has stated that joint union action is the way to stop the cuts. This policy needs to be turned into a reality. We should bombard the TUC and trade union leaders with demands for action now.”

Send copies to: Trades Union Congress, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS or email [email protected], with copies to the NSSN at [email protected]


This ………………………. (Name of trade union body, student union, workplace, campaign) is opposed to every cut in the £81 billion austerity package demanded by this millionaire Con-Dem government.
We will not accept:
  • a million job cuts
  • doubling of student fees
  • drastic cuts to welfare benefits
  • increasing the pension age to 66 and beyond
  • mass privatisation of services

We believe that these cuts will only be defeated by powerful united action led by the trade unions and backed up together with campaigns of service users, welfare claimants, students, pensioners and others.

The TUC general council met on the day Osborne announced the slaughter of public services and agreed to call a national demo in March 2011. This doesn’t show the urgency necessary given the scale and depth of the attacks.

We therefore call on our National Executive Committee (or appropriate national body ………………………..) to call an emergency meeting immediately, to contact other unions to coordinate a suitable date for joint action and a national demonstration before Christmas.

We also believe that it is necessary to prepare for a public sector 24-hour strike. In 2005 public sector unions coordinated strike ballots in defence of pensions; this is absolutely necessary now as a first step to stronger action if the government does not retreat on its brutal measures.


NSSN anti-cuts conference

Saturday 22 January 2011

12noon – 4pm

South Camden Community School (by Euston Station), Charrington Street, London NW1 1RG

All anti-cuts campaigns, trade union branches, trades councils and workplace organisations are invited to send delegates and visitors