Joe Higgins to visit Scotland
Socialist MEP bring case for European week of action against cuts to Glasgow on Thursday
Joe Higgins, the Socialist Party Ireland MEP for Dublin, is visiting Scotland on Thursday (10th June) to seek support from trade unionists and socialists for a European wide coordinated week of protests in June. He is also speaking at the launch in Glasgow of the Socialist Party Scotland.
Joe along with European left MEP’s from Greece, Denmark, Sweden, Cyprus, Portugal and Belgium have taken an initiative to call for action against the drive among European governments to slash public spending, in an effort to make ordinary workers pay for the bankers crisis.
Joe Higgins said: “ I am very pleased to be coming to Scotland to build support for our call for coordinated protests across Europe to take place during the week of the 21st to 26th June. I will be meeting with trade unionists and socialists from across Scotland to discuss what can be done challenge the mantra from all capitalist governments that there is no alternative to savage spending cuts.
“ The purpose of my visit is to challenge this cosy consensus and to make clear that Left and social organisations reject the policy that it is working people who must pay for the crisis, that we demand an end to the dictatorship of the markets, demand that the financial institutions are taken into public ownership and we declare that European workers stand together in solidarity.”
Brian Smith, the secretary of Glasgow City Unison said: “I am looking forward to meeting Joe and personally I am pleased to give full support to this initiative for a week of protest against cuts. The ConDem government are delivering an emergency budget on 22nd June that has public services, jobs, benefits and pensions in their sights. Unison in Glasgow are going to be organising a lunchtime protest on the 22nd to highlight the hypocrisy of these horrendous cuts, while the millionaires and billionaires get off scot-free”
Joe Higgins and Brian Smith will be speaking at a public meeting on Thursday evening in Glasgow organised by the Socialist Party Scotland – which is affiliated to the Committee for a Workers’ International as is the Socialist Party Ireland and the Socialist Party England and Wales.
Thursday 10th June 7.30pm
Thistle Hotel, Cambridge Street
Joe Higgins – MEP (Socialist Party Ireland)
Brian Smith – Glasgow Unison branch secretary and Socialist Party Scotland
Hannah Sell – Deputy general secretary Socialist Party England and Wales
Graeme McIver – national secretary Solidarity
Scottish events to protest against public sector cuts planned on June 22nd include:
Glasgow
George Square 12.30
(called by Glasgow Unison)
Dundee
Albert Square 1pm
(called by Dundee City Council joint shop stewards committee and Dundee Trades Council)
Edinburgh
The Mound (Princess street) 6pm
(called by Scotland No2 branch Communications Workers Union, the Public and Civil Services union and Edinburgh Trades Council)
