BUILDING SUPPORT FOR CO-ORDINATED STRIKE ACTION ON 30th JUNE

Trade union reps and members from the PCS, NUT, CWU Postal, CWU Telecoms, Unison, GMB and Unite met last night in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent to plan how to build support for workers taking strike action on 30 June.

The meeting was organised by National Shop Stewards Network Staffordshire activists with PCS DWP North Staffs Branch Secretary Pete Rofe playing a key role. Speaking from the platform Pete explained why PCS members are angry and have voted to strike on 30 June. He also stressed the need to build maximum support for the strike action.

Guy Hamnett, Chair of the CWU North Midland Branch, highlighted the decision by CWU conference to call on the TUC to organise a 24 hour general strike as the way forward.

Chris, from the NUT, also speaking in a personal capacity told the audience how the Con Dems attack on pensions would see some teachers losing hundreds of pounds a month. He also explained that the teachers in his school were mainly NASUWT members and that many of them were angry that they hadn’t been balloted for strike action.

National Chair of NSSN, Rob Williams, explained that RMT London Underground workers and Unite and Unison council workers in Southampton would also be taking strike action on 30 June along with NUT, PCS, ATL and UCU members.

All the platform speakers mentioned above and everyone else at the meeting agreed on the need for a 24 hour general strike of public and private sector workers.

But this meeting wasn’t just about discussing the way forward it also planned how we will build support for workers taking strike action on 30 June.

Speaking from the floor Unison member Joanne reflected the mood which exists among many workers when she explained that she had booked a day off work on the 30 June so that she could actively support those striking on the day.

Hundreds of posters advertising the NSSN Staffordshire public rally on the 30 June were taken by those attending. Speakers from all the unions on strike will be speaking at this rally.

Public sector workers will be taking strike action against the attacks on pensions but this is just one part of the increasing anger of all workers facing job losses, cuts, closures and privatisation.

Workplaces not on strike will also be leafleted explaining why they should support the action being taken and all those affected by the strike, like parents of school children, will be asked to offer their support as well.

Motions will also go to local branches of unions like Unison who are not striking on 30 June calling on them to join future co-ordinated strike action.