Paul Couchman, TUSC candidate in Staines ward I am standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in the Staines ward by-election for Spelthorne Council. Spelthorne has over 2,500 families on its housing waiting list. Many of these are living in poor, cramped and unfit conditions, desperately waiting – often for years – for […]
Local authorities in Britain are tasked with meeting local social needs arising from the coronavirus pandemic and its economic consequences. They have never been in a worse position to do so. Already ravaged by over ten years of austerity, they now face even bleaker financial challenges – unless there is a fightback. The effects of […]
We’ve had a busy week in Southampton! 100 staff and others packed into Valentine Primary School hall for a National Education Union (NEU) meeting on 20 November. Sue Atkins, Southampton Socialist Party Liz Filer, the headteacher, explained how hard it is to continue to meet the needs of her children while resisting the pressure to […]
Southampton Socialist Party The phony unity in Labour has been exposed! Blairite cutting councillors in Southampton have had their proposals to close two care homes opposed overwhelmingly by Labour Party members as well as by council unions Unite and Unison. Angry workers and residents’ families took the opportunity to voice their opposition outside the South […]
Keith Morrell, independent councillor, Southampton City Council Unite and Unison unions representing Southampton City Council staff have declared that they will oppose and campaign against budget cuts announced by the Labour administration. The unions have branded as “callous and shoddy” the proposed closure of two council-run residential care homes, the replacement of Sure Start staff […]
Reading Borough Council plans to privatise many of its key services. Bins, parks, road maintenance, housing benefit payments and council tax support are all at risk. It is threatening to restrict the free bus pass for disabled people and their carers. If it gets away with this, museums, libraries and adult education could be next. […]
Reading Socialist Party There was a successful launch of our new Reading and East Berkshire housing campaign in Windsor on 15 May. The meeting was attended by 40 people, with speakers and lively discussion from the floor. We kicked off our anti-housing crisis petition at the meeting and discussed the best way forward for our […]
Nick Chaffey, Southampton Socialist Party Sadly it wasn’t Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-austerity policies that were on offer in Southampton but his right-wing Blairite opponent, Labour council leader Simon Letts’ and his fellow councillors who have cruelly voted to close disabled services. Despite a heroic campaign by parents, these Blairites consistently turned down calls to save Kentish […]
Paul Couchman, Surrey Unison branch secretary (personal capacity) and Socialist Party member In one of the best local demos for many years, Surrey County Unison members turned out, alongside their sisters and brothers from across the South East region, to protest in the constituency of Philip Hammond MP. The rally was symbolically held at the […]
Read this week's #NSSN bulletin no.566: Workers start 2022 on the picket line!
https://shopstewards.net/2022/01/nssn-566-workers-start-2022-on-the-picket-line/
