www.socialistworker.co.
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As general election looms...
WE NEED AN ALTERNATIVE
TO CUTS AND AUSTERITY
T
ORY LEADER DAVID CAMERON
has announced hes not prepared
to serve a third term in office.
Good riddance! But of course he
is happy for us to make him prime
minister for the next five years though.
The reality is that millions of workers
know that five more years of Cameron
and his millionaire mates in the Tory
leadership would be a disaster.
For most of us the Tories have brought
the biggest squeeze on living standards for
generations while theyve delivered good
times for the rich.
Like UKIP, the Tories have tried to
scapegoat the poor and blame them for the
economic mess weve lived through.
But its not benefit claimants holding
down workers wages and its not migrant
workers who have shut down hospitals
and privatised our schools. Its the Tories
and the bosses that are to blame.
Last Saturday thousands took part in
Stand up to Racism demos across Britain.
Those big, lively protests showed that
working class people wont simply fall for
attempts to divide us.
A good follow up to the protests would
be to get involved with the Stand up to
UKIP campaigns work (find out more at
standuptoukip.org).
Wiped
The election campaign is now officially
underway but, apart from a spat over the
TV leadership debates, you might not
have noticed!
Thats because the mainstream parties
have so little to offertheyre so similar.
After years of coalition austerity Ed
Miliband and Labour should be way
ahead in the polls.
But Labour has already said it will
continue austerity. Labour leaders have
given in to UKIP and Tory scapegoating.
And Labours slavish opposition to
Scottish independence means that tens
thousands of working class voters have
turned to the Scottish National Party
(SNP), despite that party making massive
cuts where they control local councils.
Labour could be all but wiped out in
Scotland. The truth is we need a new kind
of politics.
We need working class representatives
who will stand up for their class.
Spirit of unity and resistance on Saturdays Stand Up to Racism demonstrations: 10,000 marched in London, 2,500 in Glasgow
In the general election the Trade
Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC)
is standing candidates across Britain who
are prepared to fight the cuts and austerity.
If you have a TUSC candidate in your
area in parliamentary or council seats
vote for them and get involved with the
campaign (see tusc.org.uk).
Create
But we need to create the kind of
movement in our communities and
workplaces that can defeat austerity,
whoever is elected on 7 May.
That means building solidarity for those
fighting back, and creating pressure in our
unions to push leaders to call the action
we need.
This week, a special conference of
Unison local government workers saw
delegates challenge the leaderships role
in scuppering national strikes over pay.
A motion was passed instructing the
union to mobilise a fightback for a real
pay rise.
Everyone should get behind strikes
where workers are showing how to take
on the attacks. National Gallery workers
in PCS are fighting privatisation and the
victimisations of a leading union rep.
At Your Choice Barnet, care workers
in Unison are fighting pay cuts after the
service was outsourced. In Lewisham
schools, teachers and support staff are
striking against forced academies.
As well as showing solidarity with
strikers, activists in every workplace
and union branch should be organising
a delegation onto the Peoples Assembly
March Against Austerity, 20 June, to send
a clear, anti-austerity message to the new
government.(thepeoplesassembly.org.uk).
Support the strikers
Workers who are currently striking
back are leading the way in fighting
back against austerity and for a real
alternative. They need our support.
Your Choice Barnet
[email protected]
National Gallery
[email protected]
Lewisham schools
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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