Off to the demonstration at County Square this morning to join fellow workers and trade unionists a very respectable crowd attended despite driving rain and high winds. That feeling you get when you join with people in a common cause which is just was in the air as we gathered in the rain, old familiar faces were everywhere and the atmosphere was uplifting. It is my belief that we will see many more days of action like this as we get down to the serious business of taking on the Government who are quite frankly the enemy, there is no other way to describe those who are proposing to destroy our jobs and pensions while protecting the rich.
The largest number of people on strike since the General Strike of 19 26 were out today protesting against the Tory/Libdem pension cuts, an estimated 2 million workers. Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Social Workers, Cleaners, Civil Servants, 'Butchers, Bakers and Candlestick Makers' stood side by side the length and breadth of Britain in a massive show of defiance against this Government of Tory Toffs and Libdem Parasites who are hell bent in making poorly paid workers pay more, work longer and receive smaller pensions for their trouble. Most of the Cabinet are millionaires who have never done a day's work in their lives. Now when the present pay freeze ends they want to limit wage rises in the public sector to 1% a year for the next two years, with inflation at 5% that amounts to a wage cut over 2 years of 8% from those who can least afford it. This is not just a cruel series of blows for workers it is a show of contempt for working people by this Government who continue to punish the poor and protect their millionaire friends many of whom do not even pay taxes, it is a declaration of war and we have to be ready to meet it because we will regret it for years to come if they get away with it.
Speakers at the Demo. All condemned the Government and some quite rightly highlighted the unsavoury actions of our own SNP/Libdem Council who voted down a recent Labour motion condemning the pension cuts. A strange little cameo was being acted out as the day wore on, there in the crowd were 2 SNP councillors; Education Convener Cllr. Cameron and Council Leader Cllr. Lawson both of whom voted against condemning the Labour motion against the cuts, I'm not sure why they were there, perhaps they argued to support the Labour motion but lost out to their colleagues but I very much doubt that. Their position was inadvertently highlighted by them as people observed how unusual it was for a demonstration this size to be held in County Square Paisley with the council leader standing in the crowd and not on the platform. The answer to that I think is that he was not welcome on the platform, speakers castigated the local SNP for not supporting the demonstration as well as condemning the SNP Government in Holyrood who not only refused to support the action but actually condemned it, we don't really need a Tory Party in Scotland do we?
I congratulate those who stood by their unions and took part in the day's events; as time goes on more and more people will I think: come to the conclusion that they will have to join in and take a stand against the Tory Government and those who collaborate with them whether it be the Libdems in Westminster or the SNP/Libdems here in Scotland. The stakes are high, we are looking to the future not only for us but for those who follow us, our children and their children: we have to battle for them as well. Let the cowards cringe and traitors sneer we will continue the struggle, time to join in folks.
32 comments:
'Join fellow workers'..'Destroy our jobs.'
Councillor, you are not a worker and your non-job is safe. So,good for you, turning out on a cold morning to support the real workers, but did you not feel embarrassed?
Tell
'people will I think: come to the conclusion that they will have to join in and take a stand against the Tory Government'
Point being even if people are reluctant or afraid to take a stand
and try to keep out of the way.
It wont help This Tory Government will seek them out to do them harm.
"Most of the Cabinet are millionaires who have never done a day's work in their lives"
Really? Care to start with the Labour front bench and Ed Milliband.
Dying to know the car factory or shipyard he sweated in.
How many millionaires Terry? start with Caroline Flint who of course nows everything about housing due to her owning 5 of them or am I thinking of others in the Labour team.
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 09:24
Anyone who tries to suggest that the Labour and Tory front benches are in any way similar in background has very little grasp on reality, either that or they are simply lying to suit their anti labour agenda.
Nikostratos -
I'm sorry but I don't quite understand the last two lines of this comment, could you explain them please.
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 30/11/11
I was there as a card carrying member of the GMB which I have been all my life, I am 63 years old and was lucky enough to get early retirement so yes I do consider myself a worker and I consider you a clown and by the sound of you a scab as well.
Tell me Councillor, why is your right to strike more important than my right to work?
I'd also ask what,when and where, your last proper job was, but I think you'd lie.
I see you chose not to comment or publish my comment about Gordon Brown's raid on pensions in 2016.
He decimated peoples private pensions and left many with a pittance who had saved all their life to have a decent retirement.
Did you campaign against this Terry or did you take the fifth (in other words collective responsilbility).
Of course you won't respond.
How can you defend such a vile attck on pensioners by Labour.
Before I get round to cringing and sneering, Councillor Kelly, I'd like to congratulate you on the endorsement your position on Scotland's constitutional status received this week from the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party. You must be awfully proud.
Anyway, it's a shame the leader of your party seems so unenthusiastic about supporting the strikes-I assume his focus groups haven't told him what to say yet. And there's such a contrast between the Tory front bench-you know, the people who you say haven't done a day's work in their lives-and those working class heroes in the shadow cabinet, isn't there?
"Anyone who tries to suggest that the Labour and Tory front benches are in any way similar in background has very little grasp on reality"
This is correct Terry.
The Labour front benchers are far worse as they are supposed to represent socialist values but most have more money stashed away than the ordinary working man will ever see in his whole lifetime.
Tony Blair now has an estimated wealth of around 60 million pounds stashed away. A nice little earner for the former leader of the supposed socialist party.
I think that you will find that there aren't any Labour MP's who haven't had their hand in the cookie jar.
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 10:34
I very much doubt whether you can verify any of this but I do share your antipathy for Blair. It reads like it’s been written by the 5th. Form secretary of the “people’s front of Judea or is it the Judean front of the people?”
Keep up the good work Woolfie.
while you are busy upholding your 1950's view of overturning the oppressive capaitalist system, the public schoolboys have stolen your party and coin it it. Mandelson, Blair, etc and even the Kinnocks are now millionaires.
Oh how they laugh.
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 01/12/11
“It was the right decision for investment. It was the right investment for our pensions and the right decision for our economy” Gordon Brown.
“It doesn’t allow us to say he destroyed the pensions system” Evan Davis BBC economics editor.
“The Chancellor has channelled billions towards the poor and disadvantaged, and to education and health while promoting business and the City. It is a pretty good record, both in terms of the numbers and the priorities. We should think twice before ignoring it for right-wing political agendas”
Tribune Magazine April 13 2007
For the avoidance of doubt I supported Brown then and I stand by that now.
You can continue to echo the opinions of the Daily Mail, The Sun and the Tory Party, you are welcome to each other.
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 02/12/11
I don’t know what you are on about with your first sentence.
Milliband refused to condemn the strikes unlike the Tories the Libdems and the SNP and the only politicians who refused to cross picket lines were labour and Green ones and the Labour MP’s were given the go ahead by the unions to attend the Westminster Parliament on the day, I have already commented on the makeup of the front benches, which one are you, are you the liar with the anti labour agenda or the idiot who doesn’t understand the difference.
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 01/12/11
The last time I looked there were quite a few barriers concerning the right to strike and the conduct of strikes but I can’t find any barrier to going to work. Strikers still have the democratic right to picket and persuade workers to join the strike, don’t thank me please I consider it missionary work.
My first job was at the age of 12 delivering milk before school which I did until leaving school at 15 and since then I have worked at more jobs than I can remember let me see, pubs, clubs, restaurants, Hotels, Building sites, farming, factories and for approx. 30 years In engineering with the Gas industry. I was fortunate to take early retirement about 6/7 years ago and I am now 63 years old and still carrying out my duties as a Labour Councillor and I am still a union member which makes my stint in the union 48 years, is that enough for you?
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 13:07
You clearly don’t know the Labour party.
Kelly @ 2.05
Delivering milk at 12yrs old? Do they not have Child Protection laws in Scotland?
You're either lying, or your milkman was breaking the law, or the rotten Tories made you do it...my vote goes to 'lying.'
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 14:48
It was 51 years ago, sometimes I wonder why I bother with you.
My Mate and I also used to skip school to spend one day a week working at the cattle market where we got paid half a crown a day and all we could eat at dinner time and that was breaking the law, but then farmers are Tories aren’t they? exploiting kids comes naturally to them.
Kelly @ 1.52
Dont know how I missed this..'Labour MP's were given the go-ahead by the unions to attend Parliament.'
Says it all, really, doesn't it.
google Wolfie Smith, I think you know similarities are remarkable.
You fail to tell us what the difference is betweeen the Tory and Labour benches. It may be you have 8 fingers still left to count.
get over it, it's a public schoolboy party and Milliband has never 'worked' in his life.
By Anonymous on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 14:08
I don’t need to google Wolfie Smith I am 63 years old and I used to watch the show.
Ed Milliband’s background is one of belonging to an immigrant family, his mother survived the Holocaust and his father was a famous Marxist scholar and historian, his working background is as a journalist and researcher, he is an Oxbridge Honours Graduate, what problem do you have with that?
Your description of the Labour Party tells me a couple of things, you know very little about the Labour Party, you have your own agenda and you are either prepared to lie for that agenda or you are a complete fool. It is not difficult to investigate the backgrounds of the Labour Shadow Cabinet, something you clearly have not done.
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 02/12/11
Well it says a lot that is true; it says that the Labour Party was created to represent the Trade Unions in Parliament that is something that I am proud of.
We are two sides of the same coin and I am in complete agreement with what we did by consulting them.
Kelly @ 6.46
For the sake of clarity, Councillor, are you saying it's acceptable for Labour MP's to have to get union permission to attend Parliament?
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 03/12/11
I very much doubt if it’s possible to clarify anything to a closed mind like yours but the answer is no. It is however very desirable to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters the Trade Union movement when Labour Movement action is being taken against the vile Tory/Libdem Government we have.
Kelly @ 3.05
Councillor,you said 'Labour MP's were given the go-ahead by the unions to attend Westminster on the day.'
You said this, not me and if it is true...'Bought and sold for the Unions gold' fits rather nicely.
Aunty Morag thought she was voting for Labour and that nice Mr Brown. God knows her reaction when I tell her she was voting for Unison and Dave Prentiss.
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... at 15:36
I have answered this already and I can’t really think of anything to add that would help you to grasp it. I am responsible for what I write and the opinions I express, I can't be held responsible for your inability to understand.
Kelly @ 6.46
Aunty Morag has gone into shock... along with Blair and one or two million others, she thought the Labour party was created to represent the people, all of the people... now you say it's sole reason for being is to represent the Unions.
Does Milliband jnr have any thoughts on this fascinating fact?
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 04/12/11
I don’t like deleting posts as you will know considering the c**p I have printed from you in the past but this is the third time you have sent this stuff and it is the last time I will print it.
Kelly @ 3.34
Censorship Councillor... always a tacit admission of defeat,so let's move on.
Could we have your views on Pilgrims - the folk who work full time on union business while getting paid out to be nurses, teachers and civil servants?
Would you agree that the unions should fund them?
By Byeck on THE MARCHING WORKERS v THE TORY/SNP/LIBDEM SCABS –... on 07/12/11
Refusing to print a fourth post from you saying the same thing as the previous three is not censorship it’s just common sense you don’t have any so I have to do it for you.
Large companies who provide facilities for union business do so because it suits them as well as the unions. This is probably too complicated for you but when a dispute arises there are two ways of solving it you can walk out or you can see the union inside the place of work, that’s why we have such arrangements.
Kelly @ 11.15
My question was about Pilgrims in the public sector... you know, the people we pay to nurse, teach and find jobs, who, instead work full time on union business.
Should we continue to fund them and their pensions, or should the unions pick up the tab.
There you are Terry, a nice, simple question for you.
Byeck said...Kelly @ 11.15
I thought I had answered this but you seem to have trouble understanding. If the circumstances merit it; it is a good thing to have union facilities in the workplace.
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