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From The Socialist newspaper, 2 December 2020
Hackney: Stop plan to halve school support staff!
Schools are not safe, photo Todd Cromer/CC (Click to enlarge)
Parents listened intently as trade unionists told them what management has not: it intends to cut the support staff in half.
The 'Soaring Skies Federation' in Hackney, east London, could dispose of 31 school workers. Both the Thomas Fairchild and its sister primary, the Colvestone School, would lose out.
This is an attack on much-needed jobs, and on the quality of children's education, in an already-deprived area.
Trade unionists and school workers protested outside the Thomas Fairchild gates at 1pm on Friday 27 November.
Members of public service union Unison and the National Education Union explained their opposition.
Hackney's Labour council should use its reserves and borrowing powers to overcome any funding shortfall and guarantee quality education and jobs. Send the bill to Number 10, not to local authority workers who have risked their lives running services during the pandemic!
Hackney Unison has lodged an official dispute with the council. If management doesn't back down, industrial action is on the cards.
James Ivens, London Socialist Party
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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.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 2 December 2020:
What we think
Spending Review. Unions must resist return to austerity
Spending Review
What will the spending review mean for me?
Napo kickstarts fight against pay freeze
News
Better for billionaires. Worse for workers
Arcadia and Debenhams closures: Nationalise to save jobs and pensions
Scotland: Campaign wins end to period poverty
NHS: Underfunded, understaffed, underpaid
Devolution
Workplace News
Don't let the festive season be one of misery for retail workers
Equity union conference calls for radical change - now lead a fight!
Solidarity with Brighton UCU strike - we won't pay for Covid crisis
East London teachers strike in support of victimised union rep
Heathrow workers strike against 'fire and rehire' plans
Hackney: Stop plan to halve school support staff!
Pay freeze protest Homerton Hospital
Unison general secretary ballot closes
Environment
'Building back greener' - yet more Tory greenwash
International News
Marxism
Review: Friedrich Engels - Condition of the working class in England
Campaigns
Wales TUSC plans to mount an electoral challenge
Rent strikers' victory in Manchester student halls
Labour meeting lets MP get away with 'Spycops' abstention
Reader's opinion
Fast fashion, big profits, low pay
Diego Maradona - Working-class rebel, football genius
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