1.5 million strike to demand an end to pay cuts and austerity
Public sector workers in nine different unions were out on strike on July 10th in force and in a magnificent show of strength to demand an end to the pay freeze.
In England and Wales local government workers in Unison, Unite and GMB; civil servants in the PCS and teachers in the NUT were out on strike. They were joined by firefighters in the FBU, and sections of London transport workers in RMT and TSSA and NiPSA in Northern Ireland: uniting in action to tell the government that they can’t tolerate any further driving down of living standards.
While striking against the brutality of the ConDems, strikers got no support from Labour.
True to form, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband has condemned today’s strike by public sector workers who have been forced to take industrial action against low pay and more pay freezes, as well as action against government attacks on pensions and jobs.
Back in November 2011 Miliband similarly condemned public sector workers’ strike action over government attacks on pensions (while not condemning the strikers!). Clearly, Miliband is desperate to show the ruling class and its kept press that a future Labour government will continue with the Con-Dems’ austerity.
Reports from the 1.5 million strong strike in England and Wales can be read here
Scotland
PCS was the only union in Scotland involved in strike action on July 10th. Three days prior to J10, Unison members in Scottish local government voted by 65% to 35% in favour of proceeding with a ballot for strike action over the pay cap. Socialist Party Scotland members are arguing in Unison for a speedy ballot to ensure that any further action in September and October involves Unison local government workers.
Socialist Party Scotland members visited PCS picket lines across Scotland.
West Scotland
At a HMRC picket in Glasgow City Centre pickets discussed the need for all workers to fight for better pay given the inequality in society. One young striker remarked “all the unions need to come out demanding the working class’s share of the recovery”.
Pickets at Paisley job centre were pleased to report that only six out of eighty staff had gone into work. Management had to turn job seekers away and were struggling to run desks.
The picket line was also solid at the Lonend contact centre with 95% of a workforce of 200 out on strike.
The mood at all workplaces was determined with many reporting increased recruitment to the union and more participation in the action this time.
But there was also frustration that other unions in Scotland were not taking part and that wider generalised action involving the private sector hadn’t been called by the TUC since the austerity cuts began.
There was a rally in Glasgow city centre at lunchtime with 150 attending with speakers from PCS as well as EIS, RMT, FBU and Unison.
Dundee
Pickets were out in force at DWP and HMRC offices across the city as well as the Court. At the Dundee Pensions Centre 83% of staff took strike action. With a similarly good response at the other civil service offices. The anger over the pay cap and continued falling wages was clear. There was strong support for the idea of another strike, except this time involving a much greater concentration of public sector workers in Scotland.
Edinburgh
PCS pickets were at the Scottish Office on Carlton Hill, Waverly Gate and the National museums and Galleries. Cheryl Gedling, a PCS NEC member said that the response of PCS members was good with the vast majority had stayed away from work.
Pickets were all positive but they wished it was more coordinated in Scotland rather than being on there own.
The rally was good, there was between 120 to 150 there. Cheryl Gedling gave a very good speech outlining a fighting strategy to defeat the cuts and got the biggest clap/cheer, including calling for the unity of poorly paid civil servants with all those affected by the cuts.
