Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1073/30264
From The Socialist newspaper, 12 February 2020
East London school strikes against academisation continue
Ian Pattison, East London Socialist Party
When will schools in Newham see sense? We do not want academisation.
National Education Union (NEU) members at St Michael's and St Bon's in east London are on strike again 12-13 and 25-27 February. St Bon's workers were particularly incensed when the head teacher made an offer and then withdrew it.
These are Catholic schools. The diocese wants all its schools to join a multi-academy trust.
Academy privatisation has been ruled out for five years at St Angela's. And Bede's in Romford has voted 74% to strike on a 90% turnout.
Newham council has an anti-academy policy. It should use its powers to help the campaign to keep schools in community control.
Other Newham residents are furious with Labour mayor Rokhsana Fiaz. The mayor has refused to rule out gentrification of Queen's Market in Upton Park, £48 million more cuts, or guarantee the future of Hamara Ghar sheltered accommodation.
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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.
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In The Socialist 12 February 2020:
News
Tackling climate change: Johnson emits huge quantities of hot air!
Windrush deportations: end the hostile environment
Streatham attack: Johnson's bill can't stop terror
NHS
Unnecessary surgery scandal shows need for democratic control of NHS
NHS debt so high it can't be repaid - so don't pay it!
Callous Tory cuts to children's speech therapy in Nottinghamshire
Trade unions
Trade unions - new decade, new challenges
Workplace news
Big Unison south east regional meeting votes for anti-cuts position
PCS union: Uniting the left around a leadership that can win for members
Westex workers win increased pay offer in 11th week of strike
University strikers walk out for better pay and pensions
East London school strikes against academisation continue
Foreign Office workers' strike
Solidarity with Turkish workers
Solidarity with victimised bus rep Moe
Cuts
How to resist tory attacks on local communities
Cuts councillors are the real problem
Council houses - not private property developers
International
Sinn Fein harnesses working-class anger to top poll
Lebanon - mass protests cut across sectarian division
Campaigns
Build independent workers' media with May Day greetings
Building a working-class movement for Tamil rights
Hackney: We don't want homes and retail units working-class people can't afford
Universal Credit
New BBC series - Insight or whitewash?
Nottingham: death of vulnerable claimant
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