Community fightback over Dundee school threatened with closure by SNP council
An angry meeting of 60 parents, pupils and supporters met in Menzieshill church to oppose the proposed closure of the local High School by the SNP-run Dundee City Council.
There were brief opening remarks for the top table. Unfortunately, the meeting organisers did not have any parents or people from the local community on the platform.
Dundee City UNISON branch secretary Jim McFarlane spoke from the floor of the meeting giving his unions support to stop the closure and in opposition to oppose all the cuts. He called for a democratic campaign led by parents, pupils and the lcoal community to be set up.
Those opposed to the closure proposals of the school and the Young Mums Unit (sign the petition here) were invited to join the lobby of the Dundee council budget setting meeting organised by Unison, Unite and the Trades Union Council on 12th February.
A number of parents and pupils also spoke from the floor expressing their anger and determination to fight this. This is an attack on not just the school but also the local community.
Local resident and parent Margaret Kydd said to the meeting “I didn’t come here to lose”. She called for pressure to be put on SNP councillors and other political representatives.
There were also members of the audience who had recently joined the SNP and who commented; “This wasn’t why we voted Yes in the referendum.”
Socialist Party Scotland and Generation Fightback member Wayne Scott described how he had organised a walkout of hundreds of school pupils at his school a couple of years ago when the council made big cuts in education funding.
The next step should be set up an organising committee that can plan and mobilise the local community. Petitions and lobbies are important as well peaceful direct action if necessary.
This disgraceful attack on the local community underlines the need for a fighting political opposition to those councillors who see it as their job to vote through cuts without a fight.
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition supporters in Dundee are calling on the council to set a No Cuts budget next week. And to launch a huge campaign for a return of the millions stolen from Dundee by the ConDem’s since 2010.
TUSC have selected Jim McFarlane to contest the Dundee West constituency in the general election in May.
