Southampton
As part of the Young Socialists national day of action, we brought an open letter onto the streets of Southampton on 12 September. The letter protests council plans to spend £200 million becoming landlords of shops and offices, while leaving the working class without a safety net during this crisis.
Young people in Southampton demanded that the Labour council act to fund the future of the ‘Covid generation’. We face the effects of ten years of austerity, low rates of pay, and poor job and housing security.
Our demands include investing in thousands of apprenticeships, paying workers £15 an hour or more, as agreed by trade unions, improving infrastructure, and a mass programme of council house building.
Our open letter was signed by people along the high street. Young people especially felt strongly about the issues we raised.
We handed out leaflets and used our loudspeaker. Many gave us their email address and expressed a desire to become involved in our campaigns.
The government has shown itself capable of spending billions to save big business. More and more young people are becoming concerned about the toxic system we live in.
It is an important time to fight for jobs and for the future. Southampton Young Socialists are planning more campaigns – on council housing and ending homelessness.
Imogen Phillips
Wolves
The Tories and the capitalist media want to blame young people for the continued spread of coronavirus. In reality, young people are the worst affected by the crisis in job and pay cuts, overcrowded housing and denied education opportunities.
The Socialist Party was out on 12 September in Wolverhampton supporting the Young Socialists campaign to demand a future – calling on the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to urgently organise struggle across the generations for decent jobs and education for young people.