Mark Serwotka to speak at union fightback launch

Article published: Tuesday, February 28th 2012

PCS union leader Mark Serwotka is to be the main speaker at this Wednesday’s launch of Greater Manchester Unite the Resistance, a national campaign to strengthen strike action and opposition to austerity.

Serwotka, who has drawn attention for his strong opposition to government cuts and privatisation, will be joined by speakers including blacklisted electrician and grassroots union activist Steve Acheson and former Manchester mental health nurse Karen Reissmann.

A member of the Electrician’s Rank and File Committee, Acheson will speak about the successful fight recently won by sparks against a co-ordinated attempt by employers to cut electricians’ pay by up to one third and impose harsher working conditions.

Also at the event will be Unite rep Mark Metcalfe, who will discuss campaigns by private sector workers against Marmite-manufacturer Unilever to cut pensions, and other Unite members who will discuss attempts to prevent job losses at Manchester Airport.

Unite the Resistance is a national campaign set up in the wake of the public sector strikes of June 30 and November 30, which saw 2.5 million union members take to the streets to oppose government attempts to cut pensions.

The organisation wishes to broaden trade union opposition to the government’s austerity programme, and describes itself as intending to develop “networks of trade unionists and activists, and to strengthen the strike action and the fight against Tory austerity.”

The meeting will be held at the Mechanics Institute, Princess Street, Manchester City Centre, Wednesday 29 February, and will begin at 7pm.

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Comments

1. Yawn!

   Yet another public sector union leader who has a vested interest in the public sector being well paid and fantastically pensioned moaning that the rest of the taxpaying, austerity hit, privately employed population are not prepared to keep his members in the style to which they have become accustomed.

   Comment by pete on March 2, 2012 at 7:19 pm

2. Daft comments , Pete . At least some union leaders are prepared to oppose the obscenity of this thatcherite torybastard goverment , and FIGHT BACK . Are you a torybastard , Pete ?

   Comment by Maggie Drooling Cabbage on April 14, 2012 at 3:43 pm

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