Public sector workers have sent a veryloud message to the Northern IrelandAssembly and the Conservative/Lib-eral Democrat government.

Three million workers belonging to twentyeight unions have walked out in defence oftheir pensions and the public services which alldepend upon.

In Northern Ireland it is probable that 80,000workers have come out in a powerful demon-stration of the power of the working class. Thestrike is a hugely important step forward in thecampaign to defend our pensions and services.

The Con-Dems, Assembly and the Executivehave heard a very loud message from unionmembers. It is time that they listened.

Workers do not accept the argument that wagesshould be squeezed, jobs should go and serv-ices should be cut to bail out the billionaires.

UNITED AGAINST ALL CUTS

STEP UP THEPRESSURESet a date for next strike

Today’s strike is unlikely to be

enough to force the Con-Dems and

the Executive into retreat. To succeed

a much wider campaign of industrial

action, protests and publicity involv-

ing young people, private sector

workers and the unemployed as well

as public sector workers and their

families is necessary.

This would unite the vast majority of

society in the fight against cuts and

for the preservation of our health

service, our education service and

the welfare state.

Unless the government retreats, a se-

rious plan to escalate the action must

be drawn up. A plan of action

should include local and regional ac-

tions - local strikes against cuts are

an essential part of the struggle. Na-

tional coordinated strike action is

key to forcing the government to re-

treat however.

It is essential that a date is set now

for further general public sector

strike action, of 24 hour or 48 hour

duration strike, early in the new

year.

Further Actionrequired

GREECE: ON THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION?LEADING GREEK SOCIALIST SPEAKSAndros Payiatsos, General Secretary Xekinima

8pm Thursday

1 December,

Premier Inn,

Waring St, Belfast

ALL WELCOME

PUBLIC MEETING

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The Socialist Party unites Catholic and Protestant workers and young people againstthe right-wing policies of the main parties.

We have a proud tradition of leading and organising successful strikes and campaignssuch as the term-time classroom assistants, initiating the anti-water charges We Won’t PayCampaign and recently have played a leading role in developing the Stop the Cuts Cam-paign which is supported by trade unions such as NIPSA, INTO and FBU.

We campaign within the trade unions for fighting democratic unions controlled by themembers with all officials elected and living on a workers wage.

We work closely with our sister parties in Scotland, England and Wales. In the South, ourtwo TD’s – Joe Higgins and Clare Daly – together with our MEP and six councillors areleading the opposition to the austerity measures of the Fine Gael/Labour government.

We stand for an end to the failed capitalist system and for socialist change where thewealth of society is publically owned and democratically planned in the interests of or-dinary people and the environment - not profit.

www.socialistpartyni.netTel: 02890232962 TEXT “JOIN SP” to 07821058319

It is not enough to direct our anger, and

our action, against the Con-Dem govern-

ment. The Assembly parties are all im-

plementing cuts.

The Northern Ireland Executive voted to

implement a pensions levy on every civil

and public servant in the pension

scheme.

Today demonstrates the enormous po-

tential industrial power of the organised

working class in Northern Ireland. With-

out a political voice however, we are

fighting with one hand tied behind our

backs. We absolutely cannot rely on any

of the Assembly parties, all of which are

pro-cuts.

The trade unions, along with genuine

community activists, anti-cuts activists

and socialists, should support the forma-

tion of a new democratic mass working

class party to unite thousands of workers

against the cuts, offer a real alternative

to the dead end of sectarianism and put

forward a socialist alternative to the

failed right-wing policies of all the main

parties.

If you agree with us, then join the Socialist Party and help build a real opposition to the cuts!

The planned huge cuts to public spendingwill directly lead to job losses in the privatesector. Further action should be spread tothe private sector. Private sector workersshould be mobilized behind the public sec-tor on the next day of action - joiningpicket lines and demonstrations, and tak-ing token action in large well organizedworkplaces.

In the past workers in Shorts, for example,have walked out to support health work-ers in Northern Ireland, and this possibil-ity must now be looked at again.

To make sure that further strike action hasthe greatest possible effect union membersmust get properly organised.

Union members need to get active in theirown unions, and seek to build links withother workers in their area so that there ismaximum impact on strike days.

In Belfast, Dundonald and Newry rankand file activists have already taken theinitiative and have held regular meetingsof workplace representatives in Octoberand November.

Joint strike committees should be formed- linking members of different unionsacross different workplaces.

The movement must be democratic. If afighting strategy is to be implemented it isessential that decisions on the struggle arenot left solely in the hands of the nationaltrade union leaders.

Those who are affected by the cuts musthave real control over how the action pro-gresses, how the struggle moves forwardand what is agreed at the negotiations.

Public & Private Sector: The Same Fight

Don’t Let the Assembly off the Hook!

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