The Socialist 1 June 2011

Strike - to defend jobs and pensions

Rage against bankers

Fifa scandal

Glencore - Profiting from global hunger

New attacks on women's sexual and reproductive rights

Disabled protester - "inadvertently struck with a police baton"

Shoesmith sacking - social work under growing pressure

Gil Scott-Heron

News in brief

Egypt and Tunisia: Revolutions at the crossroads

Greece: unite the struggles and bring down the government

Strike - to defend jobs and pensions

Government plans for the NHS: Privatisation and world class profits!

"Frontline first" a dangerous tactic - unity is the key

Cardiff NHS protest against Topshop tax dodger

Demonstration against closure of day centre in Llandeilo

Southampton - council workers' strike spreads

Saltend construction workers' struggle ends

TUC disability conference

Lewisham teachers - Action threat spells victory

Newcastle East Coast rail call centre - Save jobs!

Workplace news in brief

18 years since Stephen Lawrence murder

Coventry action against academies grows

Yorkshire meetings make Jarrow plans

Lib Dems - a party rooted in capitalism

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Coventry action against academies grows

Sunara Begum, Coventry Socialist Party

School students and teachers protest against academies at Tile Hill Wood school in Coventry, photo Coventry Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

A third trade union, Unison, has now joined the battle to defend comprehensive education against the privatisation of our education via 'academies' in Coventry.

Wednesday 25 May saw a meeting packed with almost 100 people, from school students to parents and teachers. Unison members at Tile Hill Wood school then walked out at lunchtime on 26 and 27 May. They were joined by NUT and NASUWT, as well as Youth Fight for Jobs activists and Socialist Party members on the picket lines.

Tile Hill Wood school's food and textiles technician said: "It's important to stick together in the fight against academies, and I'm on strike against academies for the same reasons as the teachers." She also said academies would mean "uncertainty for pupils and lead to dwindling numbers of pupils and more redundancies".

School students and teachers protest against academies at Tile Hill Wood school in Coventry, photo Coventry Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

School students from both Woodlands and Tile Hill Wood, some of whom were preparing for exams, came to support the pickets as the lunch hour was ending. They gave a great boost of confidence and support to the striking teachers as they spoke of how, at this early stage of the campaign, students are fighting back alongside their teachers.

Petitions against academies have been signed outside classrooms. A Facebook page, ran by school and college students, is called Coventry Youth Against Academies. School pupils have refused to go into lessons in support of their teachers on strike.

There has also been a protest against academies in the school by school students. They were inspired by the anti-fees and save EMA protests that took place last autumn, including protests in Coventry that were organised by young members of the Socialist Party and Youth Fight for Jobs and Education.

Tile Hill Wood school has now seen its fifth action against academies. With a third union joining the action, and the possibility of other schools striking over academies, the fight will continue.

Please send emails to the chair of governors at Tile Hill Wood, expressing support for staff action: [email protected]

To get involved with the Coventry campaign against academies contact: [email protected]. You can also join the Coventry Youth Against Academies group on Facebook.

In this issue

Socialist Party news and analysis

Rage against bankers