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From The Socialist newspaper, 20 October 2021
Hackney children's centres - more education cuts are devastating
Save Fernbank protesters. Photo: Chris Newby (Click to enlarge)
Brian Debus, Chair, Unison Hackney local government (personal capacity)
After years of behind-the-scenes cuts, the Labour council in Hackney, east London, is now cutting education services to the bone. Scores of support staff in schools have lost their jobs in the last two years.
Now, two children's centres, Fernbank and Hillside, within a 15-minute walk of each other, face closure - with the potential loss of over 25 jobs.
Meanwhile, at Holmleigh Primary School, a stone's throw from Hillside, five of 13 support staff jobs are being cut over Christmas. All these cuts will have a devastating impact on staff, children and parents.
At a joint meeting of Fernbank and Hillside workers on 12 October, members of public service union Unison voted unanimously to call for an official ballot for strike action. They will have the full support of parents outraged by the attacks, who are also mounting a campaign.
Parents, children and workers have already demonstrated against the council's shock announcement (see socialistparty.org.uk). Hackney and Islington Socialist Party ran a joint campaign stall with parents on 16 October. A future protest is due on the steps of Hackney Town Hall at 6pm on 20 October.
Any more cuts in the education sector will have a massive impact on the learning environment for children - in particular, young and vulnerable children of working-class families. Almost half the families served are on low incomes.
Labour councils need to stop meekly implementing Tory cuts in funding. Instead, they could use their substantial reserves to reverse austerity, and use the huge support this would receive to build a campaign for more central government funds.
Community and trade union campaigns will need to consider standing their own, anti-cuts candidates next May in council elections. They would be welcome to join the transport workers' union RMT, the Socialist Party and others in standing under the umbrella of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC).
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In The Socialist 20 October 2021:
News
Fight for a socialist recovery
Container delay carnage makes the case for socialist planning
Socialist nationalisation not bailouts for the bosses
Workplace news
University workers ballot for strike action
Unite and fight for 30,000 permanent DWP jobs
Gwent valleys Stagecoach bus drivers strike for fair pay
Reinstate Gary Evans! Llanelli postal workers strike
Napo AGM 2021: Union placed on war footing
Scunthorpe scaffs strike for pay
People's budgets
People's Budgets - a socialist answer to cruel cuts
Brighton bin workers' victory in sight
Fight to defend homelessness services
Ealing People's Budget - cuts can be resisted
Northampton People's Budget - cuts and privatisation is a failed strategy
Fighting the cuts at the ballot box in Liverpool
Fall of apartheid
The fall of Apartheid in South Africa
Climate change
COP26: Trade unions must fight for a socialist transition to renewables
Save the planet from capitalist climate catastrophe
International
Austria: Chancellor Kurz resigns amid allegations of corruption
Obituary
Obituary - Tony Davison: "I work for Militant, but Laing's pay my wages"
Campaigns
"Are you the socialist cabby?"
Housing crisis: Tories and Labour are not on our side
Liverpool arms fair: Hundreds of protesters defy police 'dispersal zone'
Hackney children's centres - more education cuts are devastating
Biggest protest yet to save Stratford Circus
Doncaster: Vigil condemns violence against women
Readers' opinion
I'm unemployed: For me vacancy crisis is a lie
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2021