Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/940/25026
From The Socialist newspaper, 15 March 2017
Derby teaching assistants' all-out strike against Labour council
Protest of school support staff outside Derby council house, 7 Oct 2015, photo S Score (Click to enlarge)
Charlie Taylor, Derby Socialist Party
Teaching assistants and school support staff in Derby are now on all-out strike against massive pay cuts imposed by the Labour-led city council. In a recent survey 74% of Derby people said they supported the action by these workers.
A council by-election held on 9 March reflected the anger towards the council. In a former Labour stronghold that was lost to Ukip in a previous council election, the Tories came out victorious this time!
Despite Labour putting enormous resources into this election - bringing people in from outside areas - they came second to the Tories.
The victorious Tory candidate said, before the result was announced, that he had been told by lifelong Labour voters that they had voted Conservative because they could not "stand the way that teaching assistants had been treated".
What an indictment of Labour councils carrying out Tory cuts when they have no excuse. Fighting cuts is a choice.
We need councillors who will not only vote against all cuts to jobs, pay, conditions and services but will campaign for the resources to fully fund the needs of local communities.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 15 March 2017:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Scotland 'indyref2' for socialist independence not the capitalist EU
State surveillance of unions: PCS assistant head demands inquiry
TUSC: SWP suspends participation in England/Wales
Save our NHS!
NHS: strikes and protests can stop cuts
Glenfield heart unit: "Children will die" angry parents tell NHS England
Socialist Party congress 2017
Socialist Party Congress 2017 reports
Socialist Party workplace news
2,000 workers on three rail networks strike against driver-only operated trains
Derby teaching assistants' all-out strike against Labour council
Unison HE conference: Delegates give the bureaucracy a lesson in democracy
Fighting racism
International Women's Day
International Women's Day: taking action against capitalist oppression
Socialist Party comments and reviews
Disabled workers deserve a living wage
'Nurses are angry and we are ready for action'
Women's struggles reduced to perfume sales and career ladder
Home | The Socialist 15 March 2017 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2021