www.socialistworker.co.
uk
All out on 8 and 9 March...
strike to defend
jobs and services
T
HE BATTLE IS ON TO STOP
an assault on civil service
workers. The PCS union is
calling on over a quarter of a million
workers to strike on Monday 8
March and Tuesday 9 March.
This follows a ballot which saw
over 63 percent vote for strikes and 81
percent support an overtime ban.
The strikes, which will involve
Jobcentre staff, tax workers,
coastguards, courts staff and driving
test examiners, are a result of the
government and Cabinet Office making
unilateral changes to the civil service
compensation scheme.
But they are part of a much wider
war.
lWho pays for the crisis?
The government, backed by the Tories,
wants workers to pay the price for
bailing out the bosses and the bankers.
Services and jobs will be slashed to
maintain the profits and the bonuses of
the bankers!
The strikes are not just a defence of
civil service workers, they are also a
defence of vital services.
If the government gets its way it will
be much easier to ram though mass job
cuts and privatisation.
So PCS members are fighting for the
whole working class not just themselves.
PCS members are in the same trench
Read socialist
worker every week
Socialist Worker carries news
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campaign and the run-up to the
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Worker seller to get you a copy,
or phone 020 7819 1171 or e-mail
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as the workers in Greece and Spain and the last three years. Yet at the same
Portugal who are fighting over similar time there is a “tax gap” of £120
issues. BILLION!
This is the money that could
lHeavy damage be collected if the rich and the
The changes to the compensation corporations paid the right amount of
scheme will see staff robbed of up to tax.
a third of their entitlements and lose But that means employing more civil
tens of thousands of pounds if they are service workers, not fewer.
forced out of a job. The union needs to take the fight
The government is looking to save into the wider movement. The Right
£500 million through the changes, based to Work campaign of Resistance and
on the number of jobs it has axed over Solidarity can help that process (go to
www.righttowork.org.uk)
lA political alternative
an active strike The attacks from both Labour and
the Tories emphasise the need for a
●All out on 8 and 9 March, full
political alternative.
support for further action the
union calls and a push for more
Socialist Worker supporters are one
element of the new Trade Unionist
national action. and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) that
●An active strike with as many has been set up to contest the general
pole as possible involved in election in about 50 seats.
picketing and other activities. We urge everyone to get involved
●Regional demonstrations and in the campaign. Contact us or go to
a national demonstration. www.tusc.org.uk to find out what’s
●Take the argument into the happening in your area.
wider working class movement
to bust the myths about civil Are you in the union?
service workers and explain You need to be part of it
how the strike is to defend more than ever now. Go to
services as well as jobs. www.pcs.org.uk to join.
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Phone.............................................e-mail.................................................................................................. PCS 25/02/10
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