Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1110/31643
From The Socialist newspaper, 18 November 2020
Overcrowded Little Ilford School strikes against more expansion
James Ivens, East London Socialist Party
A huge picket line, 50 strong, launched the strike against forced expansion of Little Ilford School on Thursday 12 November.
The enormous comprehensive in Manor Park, east London, already teaches 1,470 students. Labour-run Newham Council wants it to take 1,800. Any more would overwhelm students and staff.
Ebullient pickets chanted "stop the expansion" and sang protest lyrics set to the Sister Sledge hit 'We Are Family' as smiling Year 11 students filed past.
Staff voted overwhelmingly against the expansion. One picket told the rally that the council's 'consultation' spoke to just 12 parents!
Socialist Party member Louise Cuffaro, secretary of the borough's National Education Union branch, told the strike rally: "We will strike until they listen!" Newham NEU has accepted the offer of talks - it's the council which has refused to engage - but plans to keep the strike on until there is an acceptable proposal.
The council has known about the need for more secondary places for six years. It's a consequence of Labour's gentrification projects in surrounding areas, combined with Labour's compliant execution of Tory austerity.
Now the council wants to cram working-class kids into an already under-resourced school at the eleventh hour. Of course, the local authority is making promises of more facilities and staff to sweeten the deal.
But as another striker told the rally: "We need those things now, even without hundreds more students. We need family liaison now. We need more teaching assitants now. We need vocational subjects now."
The need for a working-class alternative to both Tory and Labour anti-worker politicians is plain. The Socialist Party says that the experts in fighting for the working class are people like those on strike at Little Ilford. They should consider standing candidates in the 2021 Greater London Authority elections with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.
The NEU nationally should also take note. This kind of action across the country is what is necessary if we want schools to be safe. Little Ilford's next planned strike days are Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November.
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In The Socialist 18 November 2020:
What we think
Tory crisis cannot be 'reset' - workers need a new mass party
News
Tories in turmoil... 'Reset' the whole system! Fight for socialism
Croydon Council declares bankruptcy - no cuts in Croydon or any other council
System failing thousands of children in care
Race disparity gets worse - fight to improve living standards for all
Covid
Covid, vaccines, 'big pharma' - and the need for socialism
Students
Tories student 'evacuation' plan will not work
Wales exams scrapped: What's behind the headline?
Schools
Campaign for school Covid safety must continue
Workplace news
Women workers need strong trade unions to defend their jobs, pay and services
Optare: Right to strike defended
Overcrowded Little Ilford School strikes against more expansion
Strike action ballot at UEL over job cuts
Hackney council parking services brought in-house
TUSC
After Corbyn: TUSC and the fight for working-class political representation
Campaigns
Manchester student occupation - end rip-off rent, free education now
#SpyCops inquiry - Revealing police violence against Socialists
Stop Leicester hospital closure
Youth
Young Socialists organising for our future
Obituary
Letters
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