On an extremely cold and windy morning a large gathering of Civil
Servants, Fire Brigade workers , the deputy leader of the Green Party
and Students from the University gathered outside the Froum in Norwich
to hear speakers from PCS and UNISON call for united action of all
public sector workers in defence of not only the compensation scheme
but also against ongoing cuts and privatisation.
On an extremely cold and windy morning a large gathering of Civil
Servants, Fire Brigade workers , the deputy leader of the Green Party
and Students from the University gathered outside the Froum in Norwich
to hear speakers from PCS and UNISON call for united action of all
public sector workers in defence of not only the compensation scheme
but also against ongoing cuts and privatisation.
As was to be expected the propaganda war has already started
after the first day of strike action. One the one side is the government
claiming that the PCS action had little effect as only 80,000 PCS members took
strike action on Monday, March 8th, as compared to the PCS figure
from the front line of over 200,000. This shows that the battle is not only of
strike action and resolve but also of words as the government tries to
undermine the democratic ballot result of PCS members to defend terms and
conditions that were negotiated and settled as far back as 1986. It would seem
that the anti-union government of Margaret Thatcher was prepared to agree a
deal with the civil servants unions which the present Labour government is now
trying to unilaterally rip up in order to save money on future redundancies.
Working people are yet again being forced to pay the price for a capitalist
crisis that they did not cause.
As was to be expected the propaganda war has already started
after the first day of strike action. One the one side is the government
claiming that the PCS action had little effect as only 80,000 PCS members took
strike action on Monday, March 8th, as compared to the PCS figure
from the front line of over 200,000. This shows that the battle is not only of
strike action and resolve but also of words as the government tries to
undermine the democratic ballot result of PCS members to defend terms and
conditions that were negotiated and settled as far back as 1986. It would seem
that the anti-union government of Margaret Thatcher was prepared to agree a
deal with the civil servants unions which the present Labour government is now
trying to unilaterally rip up in order to save money on future redundancies.
Working people are yet again being forced to pay the price for a capitalist
crisis that they did not cause.
"It was a freezing morning but spirits were high." PCS striker Matt Well reports from a picket line in Cambridge on the first day of the two day strike by civil service workers taking action against government plans to slash redundancy payouts.
"It was a freezing morning but spirits were high." PCS striker Matt Well reports from a picket line in Cambridge on the first day of the two day strike by civil service workers taking action against government plans to slash redundancy payouts.
As reported in the current issue of Socialist Appeal, over 250,000
members of the Civil Service union PCS will be taking strike action
tomorrow, Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th March. As
workers come out in defence of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme
which the governments wants to water down, job centres, law courts,
government offices and so on will be shut.
As reported in the current issue of Socialist Appeal, over 250,000
members of the Civil Service union PCS will be taking strike action
tomorrow, Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th March. As
workers come out in defence of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme
which the governments wants to water down, job centres, law courts,
government offices and so on will be shut.
When
the process of capitalist restoration in China started, some 30 years
ago, Deng Xiaping issued the slogan “to get rich is glorious” and he
added “let some get rich first”. And some have certainly gotten themselves obscenely rich. The destruction of the planned economy in China has created a
massive and widening gap between rich and poor and at the same time a
deep seated hatred against the new rich.
When
the process of capitalist restoration in China started, some 30 years
ago, Deng Xiaping issued the slogan “to get rich is glorious” and he
added “let some get rich first”. And some have certainly gotten themselves obscenely rich. The destruction of the planned economy in China has created a
massive and widening gap between rich and poor and at the same time a
deep seated hatred against the new rich.
UNISON Socialist Appeal Supporters have been active in the
campaign to achieve 25 nominations for Paul and their have been some
notable successes. The campaign is hotting up now as was shown by the
fact that members from several branches attended the Elect Paul Holmes
Public Meeting in Newcastle.
UNISON Socialist Appeal Supporters have been active in the
campaign to achieve 25 nominations for Paul and their have been some
notable successes. The campaign is hotting up now as was shown by the
fact that members from several branches attended the Elect Paul Holmes
Public Meeting in Newcastle.