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From The Socialist newspaper, 15 September 2009
TUC conference - reactions to Brown's speech
"Brown mentioned by way of tribute that Jack Jones's politics were shaped by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Yet Brown didn't mention that Jack came to the conclusion that socialism was the answer to the Depression."
Dave Walsh, Unite convenor Liverpool city council and a delegate to the TUC
"The Guardian today described Mandelson's statement as Labour making the 'kindest cuts'. But Brown told the TUC that the government has to tell the 'tough truth about hard choices'."
Kevin Parslow, a Unite delegate to the TUC
Janice Godrich, president of PCS, urged Brown in a direct question to reconsider cuts to early exit schemes for civil servants, which would affect thousands of low-paid workers. She also asked him to reinstate national pay bargaining in the civil service, abolished in 1994 and not reintroduced in 12 years of New Labour. Brown replied that because inflation and interest rates are low, this should be reflected in moderate pay deals. But every worker knows inflation is effectively much higher for the lower paid. Brown said he would be happy to write to the PCS over national pay bargaining, which attracted derisory laughter from their delegation!
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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 15 September 2009:
Big business to blame for climate change
No Job Cuts
No to cuts in jobs and services
Capitalist market prescribes diet of cuts
TUC conference - reactions to Brown's speech
TUC conference: Fightback rally
War and occupation
Socialist Party workplace news
Nationalise Anglesey Aluminium to save jobs
Rover - Gangster capitalists were treated as saviours
London RMT: Discussing an election coalition
Leeds council workers on indefinite strike
Construction workers' pay - reject the deal!
The fight against the building blacklist
Socialist Students
College workers strike against vicious cuts
Vestas
Vestas: the fight is far from over
Coventry Socialist Party councillors show support for Vestas
Socialist Party feature
Interview with POA leader Brian Caton
Socialist Party women
Victory - Decent jobs not exploitation
Socialist Party review
International socialist news and analysis
Japan: Election ends Liberal Democrats' 54-year reign
Bangladesh: Angry protests at police attacks
Sri Lanka: Defiant Tamil protest
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