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From The Socialist newspaper, 9 December 2020
South London council workers vote to strike
Greenwich council workers vote to strike (Click to enlarge)
Greenwich Council housing maintenance staff have returned a thumping 97% 'yes' vote for strike action in a ballot over plans to slash wages by up to £20,000. Last year, we formed a committee representing every department and pushed our membership density to over 90%. Now, that committee is driving the branch from strength to strength - grassroots organising and trade unionism in action.
Make no mistake, refuse workers, maintenance workers and the other key workers who kept us going through this pandemic are not going to carry the can for this crisis. For the past 40 years we've been told the country is 'broke'. Wages have stagnated for ordinary people, while those at the top are raking it in. We're putting the marker down - enough is enough.
Greenwich Unite member
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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 9 December 2020:
News
Fund NHS, not Tory crony contracts
Covid vaccines only first step - fight job losses, austerity and 'virus' of capitalism
High street jobs, safety and pay: We have to fight
Super-rich tax evasion costs 34 million nurses worldwide
Luxury for some, poverty for the rest of us
What we think
Should Corbyn stand for London Mayor?
Workplace news
RMT gen sec election - vote for Steve Hedley
Further education workers win pay rise in Wales
HMRC pay talks - PCS needs to organise members now
Reinstate sacked Unite London bus rep Judith Katera
South London council workers vote to strike
International news
Malaysia: Massive capitalist exploitation of migrant workers exposed by Covid pandemic
Engels
Engels and the answer to the housing question
Campaigns news
Welsh trades councils rally against the pay-freeze
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Tenants and workers unite to take on landlords
'Oxford, Cut the Rent!' campaign kicks off
York students determined to build for rent refunds and free education
London Socialist Party hits the streets
Readers' opinion
TV review: Red, White and Blue
Obituary
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