At a meeting in Belfast on 16 August, socialist and trade union activists agreed to form the Stop the Cuts Alliance in order to build opposition to the cuts from Westminster and Stormont. Its first decision was to call a protest against cuts at 1pm outside Belfast City Hall on 29 September as part of the day of action called by the European Trade Union Confederation.
Gary Mulcahy, Socialist Party (Northern Ireland)
Many groups and unions were invited to democratically discuss how to build opposition to the savage cuts being implemented to public services. Activists from the NIPSA and Unite unions, the Socialist Party, other left groups, and Save Mid-Ulster Hospital campaign, amongst others, attended the meeting. Messages of support from the teachers’ union INTO and the Fire Brigades Union were announced at the meeting.
It was agreed that all cuts must be opposed and to counter the argument from Stormont ministers that certain services should be prioritised while others must be cut. This is a conscious attempt to divide workers into an argument over where cuts should be made. Likewise, it is also important to unite public and private sector workers against the cuts which will have a devastating knock-on impact on the private sector.
The meeting decided to support plans currently being discussed by the NIC-ICTU trade union federation to call major demonstrations in October after the announcement of major cuts in the comprehensive spending review.
It also agreed to support proposals from the NIC-ICTU jobs and services committee to hold a protest at Stormont to send a clear message to the politicians carrying out cuts, as well as holding a Stop the Cuts city centre protest for workers to participate in.
