PUBLIC SPENDING REVIEW: MASSIVE ATTACKS ON OUR PUBLIC SERVICES, PAY AND WELFARE

The Public Spending Review announced by Chancellor George Osborne today (June 26th) sets out the Government’s plans for the economy up to and beyond the 2015 General Election. “This is more of the same, but worse,” Pete McLaren, Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) spokesperson, told us immediately after the announcement. "The Tory/Lib Dem government is imposing £11.5 billion of further cuts to recently decimated public services.
“These 'Savings' will mean
• Drastic cuts to all the services provided by local Councils like Rugby and Warwickshire with the announced 10% cut to the Communities budget
• A similar level of cuts to those public services administered by the Government - 10% cut to the Ministry of Justice; 10% cut to the Department of Work and Pensions; 10% to the Department of the Environment; 9% cut in Transport; 8% to the Department of Energy and Climate Change; 7% cut to Culture and Media; 5% to the Department of Museums, Community Sports and Arts
• Pay cuts to largely low paid public sector workers with the announcements of maximum pay rises of 1% with inflation running at 3%, and the ending of automatic progression in pay
• A massive additional cut of £4 billion to welfare payments with a series of measures including a new welfare cap for the system as a whole, to be set each year for 4 years, despite rising unemployment, and a '7 day wait' before new claimants can even 'sign on' for benefits. How can you live without any money?
• Further privatisation of education with money somehow being found for more Academies and Free Schools

"The effect of these cuts, on top of those that have already closed youth clubs, libraries, care homes and fire stations, will be to further take away the public services those who need them have grown to rely on and enjoy - including museums, sports facilities, and public transport. Cuts in provision for investigating climate change and environmental improvements fly in the face of creating the greener world we were all promised and strive for. For those who work in the public sector there will be massive job cuts and redundancies, and those fortunate enough to keep their jobs will face pay cuts. Those who are forced to rely on poverty level welfare benefits will suffer even more, if that is possible. These cuts are a disgrace.

"George Osborne began his Public Spending Review speech by repeating his lie that "We are all in this together." How can we be when, in terms of public services lost, the TUC estimates that the poorest 10% will suffer 15 times more than the richest as they have greater need for such services? Even the Institute of Fiscal Studies says the impact of tax and benefit changes reduces the incomes of lower income households by more than that of higher income families, with the biggest losers being the poorest 10% of families with children. It is no accident that the rich are getting richer whilst the rest of us are made to pay for the crisis - the collective wealth of this year’s 1,000 richest people has reached £450 billion, the highest on record, with the top 200 now worth £318 billion, an increase of 8.5% compared to 2012. We are most certainly not in this together.

“The Tories are making these and other severe cuts, with the support of both the Lib Dems and the Labour so-called Opposition, despite knowing that their austerity policies are simply not working. In the last three years, unemployment has risen to 7.8%, with youth unemployment scandalously standing at over one million. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has fallen by 2.8% since 2008. Inflation, at 2.8%, continues to outstrip wage rises which averaged 0.8% in the last year. Austerity measures have actually prevented the economy from growing, thus making it harder to reduce the economic deficit. .
“It is an absolute disgrace that Labour will not be opposing such attacks on the poor and ordinary working people. Addressing the Labour Party National policy Forum in Birmingham on Saturday, Ed Milliband promised to be ruthless about pursuing Labour’s public spending priorities, accepting the need for further cuts beyond the 2015 General Election. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls had earlier committed Labour to keeping George Osborne’s spending cuts if it wins that Election.

“Spending cuts are not necessary, as Labour well knows,” Pete McLaren continued. “A 5% wealth tax on the richest 10% would, on its own, resolve the economic deficit. There is also £120 billion per year of unpaid tax that rich individuals or companies avoid or evade. Banks could be nationalized, with profits used to maintain and improve our public services. To cut public spending is a political decision by right wing governments to attack services won for and by the working class,” he concluded.

NOTES
• Rugby TUSC was set up in March 2011. It is part of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition nationally - www.tusc.org.uk
• Rugby TUSC can be contacted on 07881 520626 or RugbyTUSC@gmail.com; PO Box 4123 Rugby CV21 9BJ
• Rugby TUSC stood anti cuts candidates across the whole of Rugby in this year’s County Council elections
• Pete McLaren is a member of the TUSC National Steering Committee, and has just been elected its Local Group Development Officer

TIMES AND DATES FOR RUGBY TUSC ELECTION LEAFLETING, STALLS AND CANVASSING - please join us!

DATE TIME DIVISION MEETING PLACE

Thurs Apr 18 3pm NEW BILTON Hollybush, Lawford Rd

Fri Apr 19 4pm STALL Along from Asda

7pm BROWNSOVER Crown, Newbold

Sat Apr 20 2pm EASTLANDS & HILLMORTON The Bell, Hillmorton Rd

Sun Apr 21 3pm CALDECOTT The Griffin, Kingsway

Thurs Apr 25 6pm EARL CRAVEN Half Moon, Warwick Rd, Wolston

Fri Apr 26 6pm LAWFORD Cauldecott Arms, Main St, Long Lawford

Sun Apr 28 2pm FOSSE Denbeigh Arms, Monks Kirby

Mon Apr 29 6pm ADMIRALS Black Horse, Main St, Bilton

Tues Apr 30 2pm NEW BILTON Hollybush, Lawford Rd

6pm BROWNSOVER Outside Merry Monk, Helvellyn Way

Wed May 1st 2pm STALL Rugby Clock Tower

TUSC campaign to save Sheaf & Sickle highlighted in local media

Rugby TUSC has been campaigning to prevent the Sheaf & Sickle pub in Long Lawford from being turned into a private dwelling. An on line petition has gathered over 200 names in less than two weeks, and a number have signed hard copies. Local TUSC supporter Gerry White was interviewed on BBC CWR following our media release, and the story featured at the top of page 5 in the Rugby Advertiser on April 18th - see http://bit.ly/15nfu5z

RUGBY TUSC TELLS THE TRUE STORY ABOUT THATCHER IN THE LOCAL MEDIA

Rugby Advertiser chose to use TUSC Secretary Pete McLaren's comments to put a socialist view on the contribution Maggie Thatcher to working class life in Britain. Phrases like "The people I have sympathy for today are those working class people whose families suffered tremendous hardship as a result of her policies,”.........“Firstly, as Education Secretary, Thatcher stopped free milk for school children........."she was determined to teach the working class a lesson for bringing down the Ted Heath Government of the 1970s, Thatcher attacked the trade union movement in a savage and brutal way as soon as she came to power......... "Publicly owned industries were destroyed. Working class communities were devastate....... "Such policies have echoes today, and her support for financial de-regulation, epitomized by the deregulation of the City of London, has contributed to the present economic crisis." were quoted in the April 11th edition

Rugby TUSC joins campaign to defend local music studio

From the Rugby Observer web site

CONCERN is mounting over the future of the Lampworks Studios – a mainstay of the Rugby music scene for many years.

The Rugby Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) have organised a gig this Saturday (April 6) to highlight the position of the 92 Lower Hillmorton Road recordings studios, which is located in a larger building currently occupied by Rugby Gymnastics Club.

But the long-term future of the studios remains unclear with the gymnastics club looking to move to share state-of-the-art new facilities at a planned indoor sports hall on Kilsby Lane.

TUSC candidate Steve Roberts – who regularly uses the studios – said :

“The gig is part of a series of events at the studios to highlight its possible closure.

“The studio and rehearsal rooms have been a mainstay of the Rugby music scene for many years and continue to play an important part in the development of young musicians and bands in the area. The studio is something which is much needed in the town.”

And fellow TUSC member Pete McLaren was equally alarmed at the possibility of the venue closing.

He added: “The studio is currently in use as a venue for music/art/film nights, recording, and rehearsal space for local bands and artists. It is the only asset of its kind in the Rugby area.

“Over the years just about every person involved in the Rugby music scene has used the studios at one time or another.”

The gig – which will also mark the launch of TUSC’s Warwickshire County Council election campaign – will feature folk/punk outfit Steve White and the Protest Family, alt/garage singer-songwriter Martin “Hungry Dog” Dowsing, and Nuneaton rockers The Hunting Party.

It starts at 7.30pm and entry is £5 on the door.

A facebook group Save 92 Campaign has already been set up.

Read more: Fears for future of Rugby’s Lampworks Studios | Rugby Observer

TUSC CHOSEN BY MEDIA TO COUNTERACT TORY MP

The Rugby Advertiser has used the Media Release sent in on the 2013 Budget and it features as the main item on its web site under the heading "How the budget will affect Rugby residents - different perspectives from MP Mark Pawsey and Rugby Trade Union and Socialist Coalition's Pete McLaren". You can find it at: http://bit.ly/XtdFfx

Rugby TUSC to actively support the European TUC Day of Action on March 13

The European Trade Union Confederation has called for “Action on 13 and 14 March against austerity and for jobs for young people” ahead of the European Summit on 14 and 15 March.
Rugby TUSC has agreed to organize a stall with leaflets, and a street meeting, in the town centre on13 March. On this day, the ETUC says that “delocalised actions will take place across Europe,” and Rugby TUSC supports this development.
Across Europe, austerity is wreaking havoc on the working class, causing poverty and destroying services in order to preserve the interests of capital. This day of action is our chance to prove that, just as the bosses’ attacks cut across borders and sectional interests, so does our solidarity and determination to act.
Pete McLaren, spokesperson for Rugby TUSC, said: “The 13th March needs to be a day when workers come together and act. More than that, it needs to be a catalyst for a sustained fightback against the austerity and class warfare of every employer and every government in Europe.”