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From: The Socialist issue 934, 1 February 2017: No ban, no wall: Socialism or Trumpism

Search site for keywords: Newham - Workers - Pay - Council - Unite - Socialist - Labour - Socialist Party - Union - TUSC - Councillors - Austerity - Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition - RMT - NHS - Transport - US - Unions - Unison - Momentum - Cuts - Bin workers - East London - GMB - London - Jeremy Corbyn - Maternity

Newham council challenged over £1.8 million cut to workers' pay

Stop the cuts! (Click to enlarge)

Scott Jones, East London Socialist Party

One Newham council worker could lose £6,000 and lose his home if the £1.8 million cut to workers' wages goes ahead. The all-Labour council, led by mayor Sir Robin Wales who earns £81,000 a year, had a whopping £161 million in general reserves in 2015-16.

Bin workers, some of the 1,300 affected, lobbied a full council meeting over the attack on 30 January. The lobby, initiated by Unite and Socialist Party members on Newham Trades Council, was joined by NHS campaigners lobbying the council over STPs, RMT transport union members, Momentum supporters and a suspended councillor!

Angry

To build support for the lobby Socialist Party members, on behalf of Newham Trades Council, leafletted workplaces and were invited into the canteen of one depot to leave leaflets. We spoke to workers who are understandably very angry about the cuts to their holiday, overtime and maternity pay. Their union Unite should be commended for taking a stand on the issue after GMB and Unison shamefully signed up to the deal.

Newham's 60 Labour councillors could vote against austerity, like Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has pledged to - and propose a strategy to fight back, like the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).

Newham residents and workers deserve councillors willing to oppose austerity. If those currently in are not willing, they should step aside for others who are. One Unite member told us he'd rather stand as a councillor for TUSC than Labour.

If the council refuses to listen, a serious campaign including strikes from Unite and the other council unions could defeat the onslaught.

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Finance appeal

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.