On the 4th December around 100 people braved the cold to attend a demonstration in Hanley city centre against the savage cuts implemented by the Con-Dems and Stoke City council. In attendance were a number of speakers from various organisations including North Staffs TUC, Unison, Unite, Youth Fight For Jobs, PCS and NASUWT. The community group ‘Save Our NHS Buttercups Nursery was also in attendance – a campaign Stoke Socialist Party has been supporting for a number of weeks.
Speakers from all the groups attending spoke to the crowd, and all had one overriding theme – that of the need for unity between groups involved our anti-cuts campaign. Andy Bentley from Stoke Socialist party reiterated this point by stating the need for us to oppose ALL cuts rather than some, as local councils would try to divide the working-class against each other otherwise.
As well as those present being inspired and vocal, the event also received support from shoppers, and drew interest from bus drivers over the road at Hanley bus station. All this despite Stoke City council’s best efforts to limit the effectiveness of the demonstration! But the message to the council and the Con-Dems was clear – the public sector and ordinary working-class of north Staffordshire will unite and fight the cuts!
Speakers from all the groups attending spoke to the crowd, and all had one overriding theme – that of the need for unity between groups involved our anti-cuts campaign. Andy Bentley from Stoke Socialist party reiterated this point by stating the need for us to oppose ALL cuts rather than some, as local councils would try to divide the working-class against each other otherwise.
As well as those present being inspired and vocal, the event also received support from shoppers, and drew interest from bus drivers over the road at Hanley bus station. All this despite Stoke City council’s best efforts to limit the effectiveness of the demonstration! But the message to the council and the Con-Dems was clear – the public sector and ordinary working-class of north Staffordshire will unite and fight the cuts!
