Lobby the TUC for 24-hour strike!

Terry Pearce, Chair, Bracknell Unite, personal capacity.

Bob Crow speaking at the NSSN's lobby of the TUC, 24.4.13, photo by N Cafferky, photo N Cafferky (Click to enlarge)

At a well-attended July branch meeting, Bracknell Unite supported the National Shop Stewards Network's (NSSN) call for a lobby of the TUC at Bournemouth on 8 September.

The lobby is called in support of the call for the TUC to name the date for a general strike as agreed at last year's TUC.

Bracknell Unite has consistently supported the NSSN and sent four delegates to this year's annual conference. We have been long-time supporters of the 24-hour general strike demand.

Our branch has a long history of struggle. We were an important part of the two-year struggle to save Heatherwood Hospital in Bracknell as well as being involved with local anti-cuts group Defend Our Community Services.

Therefore we understand the need to fight austerity and the policies of this anti-working class Coalition.

We support both pensioners and youth by affiliating to Youth Fight for Jobs and the National Pensioners Convention - we must build unity in all sections of the working class.

We hope to send a contingent to Bournemouth on 8 September and urge all Unite branches to follow suit.

We will be circulating details of the lobby to all 500 members of our branch. Day after day we see this government attacking our members, we are now saying enough is enough, we call on the TUC to name the date for a 24-hour general strike.

Lobby TUC conference in Bournemouth.

NSSN rally on 8 September followed by a lobby of Congress.

Speakers confirmed so far: RMT general secretary Bob Crow; Mark Serwotka, PCS general secretary; and POA general secretary Steve Gillan

12.30-3pm Hardy Suite, Hermitage Hotel, Exeter Rd, Bournemouth (opposite Bournemouth International Centre - TUC conference venue) - book a seat on transport from your area: email [email protected]

For more information and a model resolution on the lobby see: www.shopstewards.net

Build the TUC national demonstration outside Tory Party conference in Manchester on 29 September. March behind the NSSN banner: 24-hour general strike to stop the Tory cuts

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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.