National conference called against cuts in jobs and services

After a very successful TUC lobby and the first national demo against cuts in Manchester just a few weeks ago, the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) steering committee has taken a unanimous decision to follow up with a national conference to stop cuts to jobs and services. The provisional date is Saturday 22 January.

Linda Taaffe, secretary NSSN

At the meeting the feeling was expressed that the NSSN had played a role in influencing the TUC to call a national demo, albeit next year. Many spoke about the positive responses that the lobby of rank and file trade unionists had engendered, and reported enthusiasm for regional events against the massive Con-Dem cuts being prepared.

NSSN supporters in London, Wales and Manchester, amongst others are now organising demonstrations in conjunction with unions like PCS, RMT, FBU, NUT and others around the time of the comprehensive spending review.

It is crucial that any fight to save jobs and services must have well-organised trade unions at ground level at the core of the struggle. All felt that the NSSN has established a real track record, especially over the last year and since the onset of the financial crisis, and has earned the respect of many trade unions both at national and local level.

At the same time there are millions of workers not yet in unions, like part-time women workers, students struggling with fees and debts, the growing ranks of unemployed and those subject to swingeing welfare cuts.

Also massive reductions in services are giving rise to lively local campaigns about privatisation in schools, hospitals, Royal Mail and cuts to libraries, services for elderly and disabled etc.

The NSSN appeals to both trade unionists and anti-cuts campaigners - young workers and students, black and white, men and women, young and old - to support this conference.

Let's make a start in thrashing out a real strategy for action in the struggle to create a force that can defeat this vicious cobbled-together millionaire government. If we defeated Margaret Thatcher, the iron lady, on the poll tax, we can do the same to Tory boys Cameron and Clegg!