Protesting agains the cuts in Stoke

Protesting agains the cuts in Stoke   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Andy Bentley, Stoke Socialist Party

Protests and the threat of strike action by council worker unions – GMB, Unite and Unison – have forced Stoke-on-Trent city council to scrap their plans to cut some workers’ wages by up to £5,000 a year.

This is an important victory, and shows that workers can win if they get organised. Stoke Socialist Party and the National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN) were part of the campaign.

This victory must be used as a launch-pad for building organised opposition to all cuts. There are still £8.3 million cuts to other services.

The Tory/Independent council used council reserves to finance backing down – the second time that the coalition council has used reserves. It demonstrates in action that it can be done.

Councils can also legally borrow money to help to prevent cuts. Using these options can stop cuts and buy time to build citywide opposition to all cuts.

There are three years before the next Stoke-on-Trent city council elections in 2023. Under the control of the Tory/Independents this will mean three more years of cuts to council workers jobs, pay and conditions and our services.

Labour councillors should use this victory to announce that they will not support or carry out any council cuts.

They should immediately organise a citywide meeting of Labour and trade union members, local anti-cuts campaigns, the Socialist Party and all others who want to help build a force that can stop all council cuts.