Trade
unionists in Cambridgeshire have taken the first steps in coordinating
the strike action taking place on November 30th by establishing a county
wide cross union strike committee. The strike committee involves local
activists from those trade unions taking action and both the Cambs and
District and Huntingdon Trades Councils.
Trade
unionists in Cambridgeshire have taken the first steps in coordinating
the strike action taking place on November 30th by establishing a county
wide cross union strike committee. The strike committee involves local
activists from those trade unions taking action and both the Cambs and
District and Huntingdon Trades Councils.
The initiative came from a joint motion from UNISON Cambridgeshire County
Branch, one of the county’s largest trade unions and the PCS Customs
and Revenue Branch which was debated at a recent Trades Council meeting
This
has rejuvenated the local labour and trade union movement with new
layers moving into activity and placing the Trades Council in the centre
of the industrial activity. The strike committee has meant that control
of the action has been placed with the rank and file activists.
There
has been a move towards the trade union and labour movement through the
Trades Councils and they are becoming the focus of the fight against
the Coalition government. This is a crucial development, particularly
given the virtual collapse of the local anti-cuts group due to internal
problems and lack of democracy. As we have argued previously, it is the
trade unions that will play the major role in leading and organising the
fight against the cuts and attempts to bypass them or failure to engage
will weaken the struggle.
Signs
of a shift in consciousness have been seen with the motion successfully
moved at Cambridge University Student Union (CUSU) by supporters of
Socialist Appeal supporting the strike action on November 30th.
CUSU have agreed to call for a student walk-out to join up with the
march and rally planned for the day. This is an important development as
only a year ago there was a reluctance to organise for the big student
demonstration in December 2010, with some CUSU delegates arguing that
they should not be involved in issues such as the fight for education as
they were too political. It was their feeling that the role of CUSU
should be restricted to Cambridge University student issues only
Ben Gliniecki from Selwyn College, Cambridge addressed a UNISON Cambs County
Branch Committee to speak about the backing from CUSU for the strike
action and the need for unity between the trade union and student
movements. The meeting agreed to support the NUS backed national action
to defend education in London on 9th November and donated toward the coaches being run from Cambridge.
It is hoped that there will be a meeting facilitated for trade
unionists and students to discuss the action taking place on November
30th
This
has also been echoed with the Cambridge CLP, who unanimously agreed a
motion supporting the strike, in stark contrast with the leadership. Ed
Milliband continues to call the strikes irresponsible while
‘negotiations’ are ongoing and refuses to back those taking action.
Similar motions and support from CLPs should place demands on the Labour
Party to back the strikes and pressure Milliband to come out in
support.
Steve Sweeney from UNISON Cambs County Branch and Secretary of Hunts Trades Council said
‘The setting up of the strike committee means that the strike action is being democratically organised by the rank and file activists. The importance of this is that we are able to look at a strategy, not just for the 30th
November, but also beyond this date. The issue will not disappear after
one day of industrial action and it is important that we have the
structures in place to carry on the struggle. Through discussing and
debating the nature of the struggle we can raise the political level and
see the pensions attack in the context of the crisis of capitalism.
Workers are being galvanized into action and we are seeing new layers
being drawn into the Trades Councils which can become a focus for the
action and the fight against the government.’
Marches
are planned from the 2 largest employers in the county, Shire Hall and
Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Thousands are expected to join the marches and
the rally which will be taking place on Parker’s Piece from 12.30pm.
