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Southampton trade unionists demand: "We won't pay for Covid"
Southampton Trades Council protest 7 November 2020 (Click to enlarge)
Sue Atkins, Southampton Socialist Party
Southampton Trades Council held a protest rally on Saturday 7 November, which in the circumstances of lockdown was small, but with a bold, positive spirit.
We had done a risk assessment, maintained social distancing, and wore face coverings to be as safe as possible, while maintaining our right to protest.
As local trade unionists, we believe it is important not to lower our banner at this time, no matter what some of our trade union leaders might think. We are not 'all in it together' while kids are going hungry, students are in prison-like conditions at university, thousands are losing their jobs every week, and illegal evictions are taking place making thousands homeless. We raised the demands for "work or full pay", "defend jobs and services", "feed the kids" and "we won't pay for Covid".
Our protest attracted the attention of two police officers who personally were not opposed to our rally, and indeed explained that protesting is our human right. They told us about cuts to their own service which has meant all the preventative work they valued has gone out of the window. So it would seem that opposition to endless austerity is reaching deep into society. That is why it is vital that we continue to be out on the streets, to articulate an alternative.
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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.
- 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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
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