After October 12th, the movement against
the attack on pensions has reached a critical threshold. The great days
of action are no longer the centre of gravity, although they are still
massive and increasingly militant, as shown by October 19th. Now, the
central axis of the struggle has shifted onto open-ended strikes and
pickets blockading different sectors of the economy.
Tens of thousands demonstrated throughout the country as the government
finally presented its ruthless spending review. After many months of
guesswork, now we know the facts – and they are every bit as bad as many
expected. This coalition of millionaires is set on forcing working
people to pay the bill for the bailouts to the bankers and their rotten
system.
On Wednesday evening, October 20th, around 200
trade unionists, students and community activists gathered on the steps of the
Council House in Coventry in protest at the national and local cuts. Tory
Chancellor Osborne’s announcement of the cuts package was a few hours old, but
the previous day Coventry City Council had announced that it would cut £146
million over the next four years from a present budget of £809m. This would
have represented a cut of 18% but with the knock on effects of higher benefits
and lower council receipts the cuts will be far higher.
Oct 20th – Today’s the day. For months now workers have been dreading
the arrival of this day – the date chosen by this bosses coalition to
announce the biggest series of public spending cuts in living memory.
On Saturday, October 16, more than 3 million people took to the streets
of France in hundreds of demonstrations in cities and towns throughout
the country in the latest national day of action against the proposed
counter-reform of the pensions system. The number was on a similar scale
as October 2, the last time the trade unions called a day of action on a
Saturday but the movement has certainly developed further. The
demonstrations were another show of strength of this movement which has
lasted for months and seen 5 national days of action since the end of
the summer holidays.
PRESS RELEASE: Jerry
Hicks, the candidate standing on a platform of greater democracy in the
‘UNITE’ union and for a more militant policy in defense of jobs and
conditions, spoke at the Amicus section of ‘UNITE The Union’ in
Northampton on Saturday.
The "red mud" surge in Hungary several days ago, which destroyed houses, ruined land, cost a number of lives and has poluted the Danube – with a second surge being threatened – has shocked people not only in Hungary but throughout Europe and beyond. How did it happen – and who is to blame? The bosses media outlets are being in the main somewhat vague on this – our reporter in Hungary goes behind the scenes.
The Sunday Independent carried several articles in its October 10th
edition leaving absolutely no room for doubt that the knives are being
sharpened and the target is the Croke Park Agreement. Such is the venom
for the trade unions and the working class that even James Connolly was
dragged into the argument – on the side of the bosses!
The magnificent movement of the French
workers is an inspiration to the workers of all Europe. It shows the
real face of the French working class. Yesterday (Wednesday) strikers were
continuing their action for a second day running, following an
impressive day of action on Tuesday.
PRESS RELEASE: Jerry Hicks,
grassroots candidate for the position of Unite General Secretary, says Unite
must reject the Con Dem Government’s plans to slash Civil Servant
redundancy payments.
The depth and the scale of the damage that
the Tories and Liberal Democrats intend to impose on the public sector
will
become more apparent on the 20th October when the results of
the
Comprehensive Spending Review will be announced. Already the summer
budget has highlighted
the threat of between 25% and 40% cuts across government departments.
The
last few days have seen a flurry of activity, the AIB bill has been
presented, the polls show Labour miles ahead of both Fianna Fáil and
Fine Gael. The economy is faltering and there is a four year budget
plan on the way, although it is unlikely to be delivered to Leinster
House via a cement lorry. But what are the prospects for the main
parties and how do the trade union struggles over the last two years
fit into the equation?