share index for hi-tech industries was in steep decline, losing 29% of its value over the whole year, and dragging much of Wall Street with FIVE DAYS before Christmas might not be the time any of us would choose to do on strike, but then workers in the London Borough of Hackney also did not choose the massive package of cuts and privatisation their emplovers have imposed on them.
The council is in debt to the tune of £76 million, pays £61 million a year in Wiard interest payments to the banks it is in debt to (!) and Andrew is now making every worker and resident pay for the mess of the council's own making.
Hackney went ahead with the privatisation of its refuse service with the loss of 250 officials. jobs - and unfortunately these workers were then excluded from strike action on December 20 by regional While earlier occupations of two nurseries saved them ITs waiting lIst. from closure, the council has subsequently back out his allVICHENBENT purpose call for tax cuts as means to save the £50 per week while gardeners could lose as much as £80. No wonder the strike on December 20 was absolutely solid in both manual and white collar sections. Many areas had 100% support ana even some senior mangers (PO7) were out on The local Hackney Gazette wrote its coverage the day before the strike (due to tight deadlines) and was forced to re-write the story the following week in the light of the outstanding support received by the strike announced another is to call. Pickets were out from early close - even though it has in the morning and by 9 am more than 1000 children on the town hall was more or less surrounded. There was Homecare staff stand to receive a pay cut of up to a march at lunch time which with a pattern not dissimilar to the USA: cars and steel are shedding jobs, along with another old fashended near the City and a picket of the Town Hall in pouring rain in the evening ( it always seems to rain in Hackney!!). Both events were well attended and we received major press coverUnfortunately it seems that Unfortunately it seems that management are now determined to raise the stakes. The package agreed on December 20, ironically called a "recovery package" will mean cuts of £4 million before April and £25 million in the following financial year. A further £26 million is scheduled to go in the following 2 years. The Labour/Tory leadership is considering serving 90 day notices on all staff terminating our contracts and offering re-engagement socialist left to challenge the politics of neo-liberalism has never been more urgent.
on lower terms and conditions. The council is also threatening to discipline the Unison Branch Secretary, John Page for challenging institutionalised racism (apparently this undermines confidence in the council's internal procedures). Further action is planned by the unions and as the details of different cuts become clear over the weeks ahead there may be further action from the community, where support also remain strong. • To send messages of support or get up to date information about developments in Hackney contact [email protected] or phone 0208 356 4130