What’s happening on June 30th?
On June 30th there is coordinated strike action planned by several public sector trade unions. As many as 1 million workers could be striking on this day. Three unions representing teachers and lecturers are among those taking part. This means thousands of schools, colleges, and universities are likely to be shut. Across the country this will be a day of mass protest against the government, with those on strike at the forefront.
Youth Fight for Education calls all students to take part in a student strike on the 30th, joining the demonstrations organised in solidarity with teachers and workers, saying no to education cuts - for our right to decent jobs and a decent future!
Why’s the strike happening?
Like students, public sector workers are currently under attack by the government. The workers taking action on June 30th are striking to defend their pensions. If the government gets its way, public sector workers will have to pay more, work longer and receive much smaller pensions. Many teachers could lose hundreds of thousands of pounds! The strike will also be an important part of building resistance to the government’s cuts agenda as a whole. It’s this agenda that gave us the increase in university fees, the scrapping of EMA and that is attempting to destroy the NHS and other public services.
What’s the point in striking - does it achieve anything?
Mass protests, like the student demos at the end of last year and the 500,000 strong TUC march this spring, can have a big impact (e.g. we already won a year long extension of EMA for some students). But on their own, demonstrations of anger will not be enough to defeat cuts - not on the scale the Con-Dems are planning. For that, action which challenges the government more directly is needed. The ability of workers to strike is one of the most powerful weapons which ordinary people have. It’s working class people who produce the wealth in society, workers who run all the services which allows the system to operate, so it’s their ability to collectively refuse to work (going on strike) that gives them enormous potential power. The impact of the strike on the 30th will be increased by the fact that several different trade unions will be taking part. But even this is only the first step in the fightback. What’s needed next is more generalised strike action - a 24-hour strike across the public sector should be the next big step.
What should students do on the 30th?
Students should strike in support of their teachers and lecturers, and in defence of their futures on June 30th. Where there are picket lines outside schools colleges and universities, we should
join these in solidarity. Students should take part in the protests and rallies in town centres as well, uniting with workers in a day of mass action against the Con-Dem cuts.
In France, students joinewd protests, walked out and went on strike against the government’s pension attacks there. Here in Britain we should do the same. Fighting the government’s cuts means fighting for our future.
In Brighton there will be a march and rally starting at The Level at 10-30am. Please come along to show support and solidarity. Brighton Socialist Party will have a meeting on June 30th at 8.15pm upstairs in the Phoenix Community Centre (map below), discussing 'where next after June 30th?'.
Strike - demonstrate - protest!
Phoenix Community Centre:
