Chris Holmes
Haringey & Enfield Socialist Party
On Saturday 25 June a march of 250 people, organised by Haringey Alliance for Public Services, showed opposition to the cuts.
Ranked amongst the most deprived local authorities in the country, the people of Haringey desperately need public services. But now in addition to the Con-Dems’ cuts, the Labour council is scandalously committed to a cuts package of £41 million.
In response trade unions and community and resident groups united to march across the borough passing many of the sites facing cuts, such as old people’s homes and children’s centres, to highlight the impact on our communities.
At a rally at the end of the march at Tottenham town hall, speakers from local trade unions – including a Socialist Party member who is an NUT rep at a school in the borough – explained the strike action on 30 June and how the fight to defend public sector pensions is linked to a defence of the public sector in general.
National Shop Stewards Network and Socialist Party leaflets, which called for a public sector general strike, were enthusiastically received and 22 papers were sold.
As the rally broke up plans were being exchanged to support the numerous picket lines across the borough on 30 June.
Over 250 trade unionists and their supporters marched through Winchester on Saturday with a defiant message of, “no ifs, no buts, no public sector cuts!” Unions came together under the banner of Hampshire TUC and joined community campaigners from Save Our Children’s Services and Save Cherry Orchard care home. Socialist Party members from across the county raised the need for a 24-hour public sector strike with our Hampshire Socialist Party newsletter.
