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From The Socialist newspaper, 5 October 2016
Corbyn's praise for Cardiff Labour is mistaken
Cardiff bus strike, September 2015 (Click to enlarge)
Ross Saunders, Socialist Party Wales
Corbyn needs allies to take on the Tories and big business, but he's making a big mistake if he thinks he can count on most Labour councillors.
At Labour Party conference he applauded Cardiff's Labour-run council for not outsourcing Cardiff Bus, the main bus company in the city.
But it was less than a year ago that members of general union Unite at Cardiff Bus were forced to engage in prolonged strike action against poverty pay. While hundreds of drivers and other workers massed on picket lines outside the depot, Labour councillor Ben Thomas called on them to stop being "greedy"!
Many cities complain about not having an integrated transport system. Cardiff Council is doing its best to rip theirs apart.
They've sold off the main bus station which is directly in front of the main train station, along with nearby land, for plush offices and the new BBC Wales headquarters. Local residents are tired of the councillors who bend over backwards for big business, but won't lift a finger to fight cuts to the services they rely on.
Just a couple of weeks before Corbyn made his speech, Cardiff's Labour council agreed to outsource its leisure services to notorious exploiter Greenwich Leisure Limited.
No doubt Corbyn sees extending the olive branch to Labour councils as necessary in order to pull the party back together. But he will have to realise he has a choice between uniting with councillors who cut and privatise services, or with the ordinary people who rely on those services and those who have fought to defend them.
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In The Socialist 5 October 2016:
What we think
Combative, vibrant unions should be central to the Corbyn movement
Socialist Party news and analysis
Sam Allardyce corruption shame: reclaim the game!
Asos workers fear taking toilet breaks, sacked for panic attacks
UK workers born in early 1980s half as wealthy as those born in 1970s
Millions have less than £100 savings
Black History Month
Workplace news and analysis
RMT president Sean Hoyle speaks to the Socialist
Durham teaching assistants ballot for strike
Napo conference 2016: new mood of determination
London Met strike against job cuts and victimisation
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Corbyn's praise for Cardiff Labour is mistaken
Review: where you live can kill you
Review: international jazz protest storytelling
Socialist Students
Socialist ideas - winning a new generation of students
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Thousands march against Tory conference
Protests against children's centre closures in Bolton
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Fighting fund record smashed again!
Leeds: Solidarity demo with Irish abortion fight
London: Socialism Today milestone celebration
Worcester: Public meeting discusses Corbyn
International socialist news and analysis
Poland: Fighting back against anti-abortion law
Ireland: repeal the 8th Amendment!
Joint declaration by Izquierda Revolucionaria and the CWI
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