Parliamentary Protest

Local authority workers from across the UK gathered on College Green today to call on the government to save stricken councils and put in place fair funding for council services. 

The sun shone down on the righteous as Unite leader Sharon Graham addressed the crowd and launched Unites “Fair Funding NOW!” campaign.

Speaking to council workers from workplaces across the country including Scotland, Manchester, Birmingham, London who rallied outside Parliament today (16 June), the general secretary said, “Friends, I stand here today as your general secretary, bringing with me solidarity, from over 100 Unite picket lines. Workers up and down the country, fighting for their pay and conditions. Their families and their livelihoods.

“Unite is proud to support workers, like the Birmingham bin workers, the Veolia workers, many of whom are here today.

“So friends, let’s send a message loud and clear to all striking workers who put a stake in the ground, who push back savage pay cuts. We stand with you.

“Victory to the strikes. Solidarity to you all.”

The general secretary told the rally that after years of austerity and bad decisions, local authorities are in crisis with jobs cut, services cut, libraries and community centres shut, and the most vulnerable in society not getting the help they need.

Adding that it is workers and their communities who pay the price, the general Secretary added, “Friends, look at the workers at Birmingham city council. Those men and women taking on not only their council but also government backed commissioners.

“Workers who woke up one morning and were told they will have up to £8,000 taken off their pay. For some a quarter of their pay. While politicians’ expenses at the same council go up by five per cent.

“Councils up and down the country should also be on notice. Unite will fight cuts. We will fight for decent pay and we will fight for fair funding. No ifs no buts.

“Friends, local authorities are being crippled under mounting debt. Over half of all local authorities in England are now heading for bankruptcy.

With Birmingham city council alone paying back more in debt than children’s services, Unite’s Fair Funding NOW campaign is calling for Labour to restructure, or get rid of, local authority debt.

The general secretary pointed out that, “We are the sixth richest economy in the world – we have the money. The 50 richest families in Britain are worth over £500 billion. A wealth tax of just one percent on the richest one percent, would glean £25 billion a year. What is wrong with that being the choice?

“Austerity is a choice. Cutting local authority budgets is a choice. Profiteering on the back of bankrupt councils is a choice.

“Labour – make the right choices. And show workers whose side you are on.”

Sharon Graham was joined by council workers who explained the impacts cuts were having where they work, and Jon Trickett MP, who has tabled an early day motion calling on the government to restructure local authority debt. 

Unite member Leigh Redman was at the rally. Leigh is branch secretary for SW011 Taunton group branch that includes local government in Somerset, and leader of Somerset council labour group.

Leigh said, “I was pleased to be able to attend Unite rally in Westminster today along with other Unite South West colleagues from local government to demand fair pay and fair funding!

“For 15 years local authorities have faced brutal austerity cuts, with frontline workers and services facing the brunt. This has to stop.”

The Fair Funding Now website gives more information and resources about the  campaign, including how supporters can write to their local MP and ask them to support the EDM (Early Day Motion 1245: Restructure of local government debt), which can be found here.

The protest took place on Monday 16 June opposite Parliament and to read Sharon Graham’s College Green full speech go here. 

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Mark Thomas