London climate strike 20 September 2019, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson

London climate strike 20 September 2019, photo Paul Mattsson, photo Paul Mattsson   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

London

On Friday 29 November Parliament Square filled with striking school students. They marched off around central London before meeting up with the University and College Union (UCU) strikers as the latter’s march was ending.

Many UCU members were pleased to see so many climate-justice students.

Many of the students liked what the Socialist Party had to say on climate change and workers’ control, kicking out the Blairites and socialism. We met eleven people who wanted to know more about joining the Socialist Party and left their details.

The Socialist paper was perfect for the demo. The back page was on climate change. The front page was on the UCU strike, with more reports inside. And the general election was peppered throughout. 41 protesters bought a copy.

Ian Pattison, East London Socialist Party

Newcastle

Newcastle’s Climate Strike rally was roughly 500 strong. Compared to previous climate protests there were less school students, however there were more trade unionists present.

It was good to have trade union speakers from Unison, UCU, RMT and NEU. However, it wasn’t so much of an open mic, and local young people weren’t getting up and speaking in the way they previously have. As far as we could tell, they weren’t being invited up to speak.

The protest – due to the lower number of younger participants and the rather scripted manner of it – was less energetic than earlier

climate demos, despite a rather minor clash with police about marching routes.

Unsurprisingly, the people there were mainly anti-Tory, including a young Jewish lad that we spoke to who was voting for Labour, while his parents are very much against Corbyn.

Sam Morden, Newcastle Socialist Party

Swansea

Several young members from the Swansea Socialist Party branch have been involved in organising the Youth Strikes 4 Climate since the beginning of the year. This month’s strike was smaller than the 20 September peak, but the link between the youth and the trade unions was maintained as the strikes are being co-hosted with Swansea Trades Council.

Around 70 young people and a smaller group of XR supporters gathered to hear young campaigners, trade unionists and researchers speak at a rally.

The crowd then marched to the city’s civic centre and onto the council chambers where an open mic was held where more school students and local scientists where given the chance to speak.

Gareth Bromhall, Swansea Socialist Students