Tory conference to kick off winter of discontent
Jake | 18.09.2010 00:32 | Analysis | Public sector cuts | Workers' Movements | Birmingham
The demonstrations opposing austerity at the tory conference on october 3rd will, say trade union reps, herald the start of a winter of discontent in the UK as the cuts move beyond government memos and newspaper opinion columns and become a horrendous part of daily life. Unsurprisingly, west midlands police are attempting to stall and limit the scale of action at the demo. It seems the anti-cuts campaign is beginning to spring into life as a mass movement just in time to assert itself in the face of state-sponsored class war and protest repression.
We are facing a rising tide of austerity measures as the privileged take stock of how to offset the hangover from years of champagne living. The welfare state is to be disbanded. State services are to be privatised. Entire communities are facing the axe.
Earlier this week the IWW warned, "Remember: these cuts are already happening. English as a second language provision went before the summer while the Labour government were still encouraging ‘citizenship’ for new arrivals. Youth service Connexions has been decimated, just as the youth of this country need more support to get work. Libraries are operating under a short staff regime and many are closing early and at the weekend. The workforce is increasingly split into small service providers and businesses. Many of us are in temporary or part time work or even on ‘zero hour’ contracts. "
Around the country similar signs of rot are appearing in the system. Sadistic debates around the commodification of humanity are opening up as Vince Cable engages in a row with Downing Street over whether immigration caps are good for business. Downing Street says it's OK because it "still allows the brightest and the best to come to Britain". As the world's financial systems go into meltdown we see what our lords and masters really think of the commoners.
The momentum behind the tory conference protest is ever-increasing as communities mobilise en masse to reclaim ownership of their livelihoods. The predictable police response is to try to undermine the protest in the ever-increasing spirit that a demonstration should never, under any circumstances, be allowed to achieve anything. Latest plans announced in the Birmingham Mail yesterday appear to allow for no more than 30 protesters to occupy a designated protest zone. After all, say West Midlands police, anything more could cause "hazardous congestion".
Let us on october 3rd and beyond stand together as a general public due to be decimated by the privileged in the name of protecting vested interest. In the words of the IWW: "The TUC have voted for co-ordinated action. Fair play. But by the time they have balloted and organised it could be too late. The cuts are happening now not some time in the future. We need to stand together as workers and as a community. ‘An injury to one is an injury to all’."
Earlier this week the IWW warned, "Remember: these cuts are already happening. English as a second language provision went before the summer while the Labour government were still encouraging ‘citizenship’ for new arrivals. Youth service Connexions has been decimated, just as the youth of this country need more support to get work. Libraries are operating under a short staff regime and many are closing early and at the weekend. The workforce is increasingly split into small service providers and businesses. Many of us are in temporary or part time work or even on ‘zero hour’ contracts. "
Around the country similar signs of rot are appearing in the system. Sadistic debates around the commodification of humanity are opening up as Vince Cable engages in a row with Downing Street over whether immigration caps are good for business. Downing Street says it's OK because it "still allows the brightest and the best to come to Britain". As the world's financial systems go into meltdown we see what our lords and masters really think of the commoners.
The momentum behind the tory conference protest is ever-increasing as communities mobilise en masse to reclaim ownership of their livelihoods. The predictable police response is to try to undermine the protest in the ever-increasing spirit that a demonstration should never, under any circumstances, be allowed to achieve anything. Latest plans announced in the Birmingham Mail yesterday appear to allow for no more than 30 protesters to occupy a designated protest zone. After all, say West Midlands police, anything more could cause "hazardous congestion".
Let us on october 3rd and beyond stand together as a general public due to be decimated by the privileged in the name of protecting vested interest. In the words of the IWW: "The TUC have voted for co-ordinated action. Fair play. But by the time they have balloted and organised it could be too late. The cuts are happening now not some time in the future. We need to stand together as workers and as a community. ‘An injury to one is an injury to all’."
Jake
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
It's not the Winter of Discontent
18.09.2010 17:22
Let the Tories grub around for their own PR Copy. Michael Gove has already said "another winter of discontent would help the party" - well give them no ammunition. Call it the Winter of Taking Back the Economy. But do not fall into the trap of using the masters words.
Red Robbo
I have to get up in the morning to go to work - people on welfare are depending
18.09.2010 18:13
Long term sick benefits
I'm sick of seeing people at my workplace taking the job and then being off work sick for 6-12months with 'stress'. If the job is stressful, don't take it! Find a different one and let someone who can do the job and is willing to do the job have the opportunity.
Long term unemployed
To be unemployed for years on end is it pitiful excuse. Moaning about cutbacks? Tough!
Don't like it? Tough!
hardman
Sack the lot
20.09.2010 08:29
Too many of them are greedy and clueless about the real world of making money and spending it wisely. They expect good pay, superb pensions, generous holiday allowances plus leniency towrads their 'sick' leave as a right.
They forget that these things are paid for by the rest of us, and many of us don't enjoy anything like the job benefits public staff get.
Pete