A meeting of trade unionists, socialists, anti-cuts and environmental campaigners met in Derby last week (19 November) to launch the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and discuss plans to stand across the city in the 2014 local elections.
A second public meeting has been organised in Sinfin on Wednesday 27th November at the Sinfin Moor Social Club, Areleston Lane, Sinfin, Derby, DE24 3DH, from 7.30pm till 9pm. One of the speakers will be Dorothy Skrytek, a member of the campaign against the Sinfin incineration plant and the Friends of the Earth.
The November 19 meeting was addressed by Harry Smith, a former Labour councillor who was part of the socialist Liverpool city council between 1983-87. Along with 46 other councillors, Harry set a budget based on what the city needed to provide jobs and services and built a campaign to demand more money from the Thatcher government. Harry described that whilst other Labour councils were passing on cuts, Liverpool built houses, swimming pools, parks and created more jobs. This shows what a council can do if it is prepared to fight.
Chris Tapp, brigade secretary of Derbyshire Fire Brigades Union (FBU), spoke about the strike actions firefighters have been taking to defend their pensions. He also appealed for support for their campaign against huge cuts to the fire service in Derbyshire. These attacks include the slashing of 16 fire engines, eleven fire stations and over 100 jobs. The meeting agreed to give full support to the FBU’s campaigns both locally and nationally.
Charlie Taylor, supporter of TUSC and Socialist Party member, appealed for people to support TUSC and consider standing themselves in the elections next year. He explained that the Labour Party no longer offered an alternative to working class people, that we can’t wait until 2015 for a Labour government to continue austerity and that we need to make a stand now. He explained that already in Derby we have five potential candidates but that we want to stand an anti-cuts slate across the city.
After this successful launch meeting, there will be meetings held in areas throughout Derby to find people that want to stand for an alternative to cuts and austerity.
PRESS RELEASE
Derby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) support campaign against incinerator
At a meeting which launched the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) in Derby it was agreed to give full support to Sinfin and Spondon Against Incineration (SSAIN).
Dorothy Skrytek, a member of Friends of the Earth, explained what had been done with the campaign over 15 years against an incinerator being built in the Sinfin area, including taking the fight into various courts.
Sinfin is one of the most deprived areas in Derby with many people suffering from health problems that will be exacerbated if the incinerator were to be built.
TUSC stands for protection of our environment and an end to global warming, for publicly-owned and controlled renewable energy to be run in the interests of need, not profit. We also call for goods to be designed for reuse and recycling.
Charlie Taylor, a supporter of TUSC in Derby, said:
“SSAIN has fought heroically against the incinerator and it is a credit to the individuals involved that they are still prepared to struggle on this issue. They have been let down by the Labour councillors who originally supported the campaign but who now, after winning control of Derby city council, have flipped 180 degrees and have now joined the chorus of voices for the incinerator to be built next year.
“TUSC fully supports this campaign and will make it one of the main issues on our manifesto for the city council elections next year. We hope that people involved in SSAIN will choose to stand as TUSC candidates themselves”.