NSSN Bulletin
No. 90
11 May 400,000 public sector
workers across the country demonstrated once again on May 10th
that the mass campaign against pension cuts is still very much
alive. The "regulars" like the PCS, NIPSA and UCU were joined
this time by Unite workers in health, who organised a lively
demonstration from St Thomas’s Hospital London; Unite staff from
government departments; the Immigration Service Union (ISU); and
RMT members the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The NSSN gives a special
mention to POA members across the country left the prisons with
only emergency cover to stage "illegal" walkouts. These lasted 7
hours and involved all Scottish prison officers and 80% in
England & Wales.
This was topped by a massive
demo filing past Parliament of 35,000 off-duty police, 16,000 of
whom wore black caps each to signify a job cut. Their few
banners expressed their anger." Utterly betrayed" and ""No Right
to Strike = Right to be screwed." It is a sign of government
short-sightedness that they cannot even beef up the forces of
the state they rely on!
However, the significant union
missing was unfortunately the NUT. It is a fact that closed
schools helps enormously to provoke media headlines, and add to
the pressure on the government. And they have been there in the
actions so far. There were many reports of strikers on picket
lines asking where the teachers were? In fact the NUT National
Executive were meeting in London at the same time as these
demonstrations were taking place, and, it was reported at a
brief lobby of teachers at DfEE, that they had decided against a
strike in June, despite clear agreement at their recent annual
Conference to do so.
The task of bringing the school teachers back
into the fold, and how to build on the vote of Unison health
workers who narrowly rejected the pensions deal in a ballot, now
takes on an even more urgent character. NSSN Conference in June
9th is increasingly looking like a very useful forum to discuss
the way forward. We urge as many members of teaching unions and
local government in particular to make a special effort to come
along. We need to organise unity from the bottom up. We've just
produced more copies of an updated leaflet for the conference.
Let us know if you need a supply!
The battle on pensions is the most favourable
terrain we have to fight on together. Pension cuts unite all
public sector workers more than any other cuts campaigns. The
Coalition government looks increasingly on the ropes. PCS and
Unite have indicated plans to call another action at the end of
June. Bob Crow has raised the possibility of a "national strike"
in the autumn. We have the potential to win. NSSN Conference can
play a role in helping to win. Be there!
