FCC recycling strike leader and Labour concil candidate Tony Smith, photo by Phil Culshaw

FCC recycling strike leader and Labour concil candidate Tony Smith, photo by Phil Culshaw   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Phil Culshaw, Hull Socialist Party

80 people gathered in Victoria Square at the Hull Trade Union Council (TUC) anti-austerity rally to show their backing for Jeremy Corbyn.

Called at short notice in the wake of the backstabbing of the Independent Group, the mood was defiant and determined.

A number of first-time Labour candidates standing in the council elections attended, and expressed support for anti-austerity policies. This included Tony Smith, one of the leaders of last year’s FCC recycling workers’ strike, which won them entitlement to sick pay.

The Socialist Party says that supporting anti-austerity policies should mean setting a no-cuts budget, using the council’s reserves and borrowing powers, while mobilising the unions to fight to get the money back from Westminster.

Joe Gibbins, Hull TUC secretary, introduced Tony: “When the workers stand together in unity and action we can win – a lesson backstabbers like Tom Watson and the Independents need to learn.”

Joe explained that the nearer the possibility of a Corbyn-led government committed to anti-austerity policies, the greater the lies and slander from the Tories and their lackeys in the workers’ movement.

We sold eight copies of the Socialist at the rally, and over 20 at Hull TUC’s annual general meeting.