Strike and protest 20 December

Day of action called by Hackney Unions and Community Campaigners

The London Borough of Hackney is heading for a major confrontation both with its workforce and with the residents.

A so called ‘recovery plan’ has been dismissed by local activists as a ‘closing down sale’.

On top of £22 million in council cuts already agreed, the council plan a further £18 million in cuts, wholesale asset stripping and a 10 per cent per year increase in council tax for the next three years.

John Page Unison Branch Secretary has stated; “If these proposals are accepted we will see a complete meltdown in council services, widespread redundancies and cuts in pay and conditions; put simply we are not having it”

Council workers have voted for a campaign of strike action.

The ballot result showed a staggering 81 per cent in favour of strike action.

The first strike day is Wednesday 20 December. All council services will be affected in what looks set to be a massive show of trade union strength. All committee clerks are supporting the action, the legal department has voted to support the action, all housing offices will close, 20 schools have already announced they will not be opening on Wednesday. Only senior management are expected to attempt to cross the mass picket of the Town Hall.

The day of action coincides with two council sub committee’s and a full council meeting, where councillors plan to privatise school buses, and close a nursery which they pledged just four weeks ago to keep open. Pickets will be out at 7am at every council building. There will be a lunchtime rally and protest march. There will also be a mass lobby of the council meetings at 6pm.

Hackney Unison are calling for the following support.

Can all London trade union branches publicise the day. Hackney residents should try and support the day of action by taking the day off work and supporting the picket lines, march and rally.

Local workplaces should discuss sympathy action; the Turkish community are planning to repeat their impressive one-hour general strike in Stoke Newington. Lunchtime delegations from workplaces (with banners) will also be valued.

All London trade unionists should attempt to send a delegation to the evening lobby. The dispute in Hackney is primarily about the right of working class communities to have services from their local councils. Hackney is effectively facing a structural adjustment program that demands the withdrawal of essential services, the destruction of workers rights and a process of asset stripping.

Hackney is the test case borough, if they defeat us they will move on to other ‘failing’ boroughs. The real solution is; return the £50 million of government grant withdrawn from Hackney in the last three years, cancel the crippling debt payments of £65 million per year that Hackney pays to the city, reclaim the missing millions lost by the incompetence resulting from the privatisation of our revenue and benefits service.

Help us force open the government ‘election war chest’. Support the following demands:

• Cancel the debt
• No rent rises, no cuts in services
• Support council workers in Hackney.
• Support the working class of Hackney in asserting their rights to council services

It is anticipated that the dispute will escalate in the New Year, with additional strike days already planned. Hackney Unison is keen to speak to groups of workers to gain support for our campaign.

Anyone able to offer support should email hackney@unisonfree.net or phone 0208 356 4130

Unity is strength, looking forward to your support.

John Page
Branch Secretary
Hackney Unison