Friday 25th March
It is the eve of what will undoubtedly be the biggest trade union demonstration in Britain for decades.
We all need to put in a last big push for tomorrow, to make sure it is as big as possible. Reports from around the country show that it is continuing to grow, with new coaches still being booked in.
Everybody who joins the demonstration will return home more determined to fight the cuts. Every union group and workplace delegation will feel more able to resist attacks on pensions, wages, jobs and terms and conditions.
Saturday 26th March will go down in history. It needs to be remembered as the beginning of the great fightback.
Over the last few weeks one major focus of the struggle was on mobilising big protests against the budgets being set by local councils. For the first time in years council meetings were disrupted and broken up by anti cuts protestors. Many budgets were set under seige.
Across the country councils have passed budgets that will slash services, and lead to the sacking of thousands of workers.
In response to this civil servants, council workers and teachers are organising industrial action ballots. Everybody who wants to stop the cuts needs to build the maximum support for the strikes. This is a crucial next step in the campaign against the cuts.
Lecturers
Over 100,000 lecturers in Universities and Colleges across the country struck yesterday against attacks on their pensions. This is the biggest national action by lecturers for years and is the beginning of a determined fight to defend their pension rights.
Teachers
2,000 Teachers in Tower Hamlets NUT have voted to strike against the cuts. They are due to strike on Wednesday 30th March, just days after the TUC demonstration.
2,000 Teachers in Camden NUT have also voted to strike against cuts.
The NUT is due to ballot all it’s members in the fight to save their pensions.
Council workers
3,700 Council workers in UNISON in Nottingham struck against 1,000 proposed cuts in February. They have held mass meetings and are planning more action.
3,000 UNISON members in Tower Hamlets have voted to strike against cuts. They will be joining the teachers and striking on 30th March.
Birmingham UNISON will soon be balloting their members against 7,000 job losses.
Southampton council workers are balloting for strike action in response job cuts.
Manchester UNITE members have voted in a consultative ballot for industrial action against 2,100 job losses.
Many other local council unions are preparing for industrial action ballots.
Civil Service
2,000 PCS members in the Driving Standards Agency have voted for industrial action against job losses and closures.
8,000 PCS members in Job Centre Plus call centres are balloting for action.
The cuts will devastate our services. Every cut or closure should be met with demonstrations, strikes and occupations.
Every Fat Cat tax evader should expect an escalating campaign of protests at their shops and businesses. The bankers who are raking in billions in bonuses need to face the same treatment.
Saturday will be a celebration of the strength of trade unionism in Britain. Every coach and train can be a launch pad for further action. Lets make Saturday the beginning of a mass movement that sweeps away the ConDems and their big business agenda.
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Right to Work reporting on the 26th
