Brighton Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition: Thurs 19 March- Today's strike and picket line of UCU union members and supporters (students, other union reps and activists)

Thursday 18 March 2010

Thurs 19 March- Today's strike and picket line of UCU union members and supporters (students, other union reps and activists)

Excellent picket lines at the University of Sussex this morning- strong support by UCU members, by shop stewards and reps and activists of other unions- and by students- SP, SWP, StC (Stop the Cuts campaign)

Management has been criticised by Senate, by the University of Susses Students' Union (at a packed meeting yesterday- around a thousand at the meeting- couldn't all get in ti the meeting hall!.. passed a motion of no-confidence in the Uni Management... quite right too

If there is another UCU strike, hopefully the other main campus unions can also officially join in, UNITE and UNISON... their jobs of course are also affected.. 115 jobs including 53 lecturers and the rest are support/ student welfare etc staff.

Victory to the Strikers! keep Open the University Creche! An end to macho-management! No compulsory redundancies! Stop the Cuts!

I'll post some pics from this morning's picket line shortly

Dave Hill
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown

WHAT TUSC STANDS FOR

PUBLIC OWNERSHIP, NOT PRIVATISED PROFIT

Stop all privatisation, including the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), and the immoral privatisation of prisons. Bring privatised public services and utilities back into public ownership under democratic control.

NO CUTS - QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES

Take rail back into public ownership and build an integrated, low-pollution public transport system.

For a high-quality, free National Health Service under democratic public ownership and control.

Stop council estate sell-offs and build eco-friendly, affordable public housing.

Good, free education for all, under democratic local authority control; student grants not fees.

Keep Royal Mail as a publicly-owned service, not a privatised cash cow.

JOBS, NOT HANDOUTS TO BANKERS & BILLIONAIRES

Bring banks and finance institutions into genuine public ownership under democratic control, instead of giving huge handouts to the very capitalists who caused the crisis.

Tax the rich. For progressive tax on rich corporations and individuals, with a crackdown on tax avoidance.

For massive investment in environmental projects.

EMPLOYMENT & TRADE UNION RIGHTS

Repeal the anti-trade union laws.

A minimum wage set at half average adult male earnings, with no exemptions.

Invest to create and protect jobs, including for young people.

Solidarity with workers taking action to defend jobs, conditions, pensions, public services and trade unions. Reinstate full trade union rights to prison officers.

PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT - STOP GLOBAL WARMING

Deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions - otherwise climate change, caused by capitalism, will destroy us.

Invest in publicly-owned and controlled renewable energy.

Move to sustainable, low-pollution industry and farming - stop the pollution that is destroying our environment.

Recognise that many of our planet's resources are limited and that capitalism fritters them away for profit.

Produce for need, not profit, and design goods for reuse and recycling.

DECENT PENSIONS & BENEFITS

Restore the pre-Thatcher real value of pensions. Reinstate the link with average earnings.

Protect entitlement to benefits; for living benefits; end child poverty.

DEMOCRACY, DIVERSITY & JUSTICE

Welcome diversity and oppose racism, fascism and discrimination. Defend the right to asylum.

Ensure women have genuinely equal rights and pay.

Defend our liberties and make police and security democratically accountable.

SOLIDARITY NOT WAR

Bring home all British troops from Afghanistan immediately - no more wars for resources.

No more spending on a new generation of nuclear weapons, huge aircraft carriers or irrelevant eurofighters - convert arms spending into socially useful products and services.

An independent foreign policy, based on international solidarity – no more being a US poodle, no moves towards a capitalist, militarist United States of Europe, no Lisbon Treaty.

SOCIALISM

For a democratic socialist society run in the interests of the people not the millionaires. For democratic public ownership of the major companies and banks that dominate the economy, so that production and services can be planned to meet the needs of all and to protect the environment.