Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1040/29056
From The Socialist newspaper, 1 May 2019
Worcester: Fightback against library cuts
The threatened St John's Library, Worcester, photo Philip Halling/St John's Library/CC, photo Philip Halling/St John's Library/CC (Click to enlarge)
Sean McCauley, Worcester Socialist Party
The third instalment in the campaign to see off the cuts to services at St John's library, Worcester, took place on 20 April when 30 protesters gathered outside the library itself. This protest followed two successful public meetings in February and March.
Socialist Party placards calling for 'no cuts', 'no job losses', 'no privatisation, 'no closures', 'save services at St John's Library' were brandished by all age groups. The small shopping area resounded to the chant of "they say cutback. We say fightback".
We need councillors who will fight the government for the return of the £168 million cut since 2012, and an end to the current wave of attacks. We need councillors who will vote against all cuts and who will lead, along with the trade unions, a fightback campaign which involves all council workers, community campaigners and services users.
By using the £2 million of reserves currently available and by borrowing prudently, we could offset the immediate threats to give ourselves time to mount a mass campaign to fight Tory austerity.
An immediate easy win would be cancelling the two main Private Finance Initiative contracts in the county. Firstly, the deal struck over Bromsgrove schools (which were rebuilt some years back and which will end up costing us £221 million over 25 years). And, secondly, the deal for Hartlebury incinerator, which syphons £12 million a year.
Mark Davies, Socialist Party member and Socialist Alternative candidate in the local county council elections, spoke at the protest. He pledged to link up with any Labour councillors committed to voting against all cuts.
We will, however, expose all those, including Labour councillors, who blindly pass austerity onto to working-class communities.
Local unions can play a key role in opposing all these cuts by mobilising its members in defence of jobs and services. The convening of a council-wide workers' meeting, or a series of area meetings, to discuss concerted opposition up to and including strike action would be a start to the process of forcing the hand of the employers.
A 24-hour stoppage in opposition to all cuts would send a clear message to local Tory councillors and council officials.
The next step in our campaign is a march around St John's on Saturday 18 May at 11am, starting from the library.
We also intend to link up with users of other Worcestershire libraries like Rubery, Warndon, Droitwich and Tenbury Wells so a joint protest can be built in advance of the issuing on 6 June of the report on the sham consultation process.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 1 May 2019:
News
Build student unions and walkouts to fight climate change and Trump!
300 NHS nurse suicides in seven years - fully fund our health service now!
Port Talbot steelworks rocked by an explosion - nationalise the plant to save jobs and lives!
Build a universal safety net - abolish Universal Credit!
Universal Credit disaster behind foodbank rise
Local elections 2019
Local elections 2019: Time to stand up and fight the cuts!
Wirral Tories raise spectre of Militant
Leicester: No-cuts budget only way forward
Worcester: Fightback against library cuts
Union action needed to fight Tory Derbyshire Council cuts
Workplace news
Valentine victory: School strike beats council cuts
Strike ballot: huge result must launch fightback
Communication workers oppose second EU vote, and back new socialist 'Clause IV' for Labour
International socialist news and analysis
India General election shows crying need for independent socialist alternative
France Telecom: Privatisation in the dock
Scandinavian Airlines walkout disrupts Nordic air travel
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
EU elections: Countering Farage's right-wing Brexit Party
Swansea anti-far right protest
Opinion
Knife crime - a product of capitalist misery
Home | The Socialist 1 May 2019 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2018