Summer of Discontent

After 40 years of neoliberalism and 10 years of austerity, working class voices are getting louder - especially in Greater Manchester.

Public outcry, union demands and protests are almost a daily occurrence at the moment. International matters, health, housing, transport and the retail sector are all under the spotlight as the government squirms and financial institutions and private companies grasp feverishly for even more profit to ferret away in their tax havens.

As the furlough scheme is due to end in October, redundancies are rife. Large companies, many of whom continue to make fat profits for shareholders and pay their executives six figure salaries, flout the law and fire people with just a few days notice in some cases.

Shop stewards are being suspended and silenced when they speak out, NHS whistleblowers are being threatened. Teachers, concerned about schools opening before covid infection rates are under control are being smeared in the press.

Disproportionate numbers of police officers are being mobilised to intimidate protesters and protect the interests of greedy bosses.

Keeping your head down, looking after number one and crossing your fingers is what the system has tried to instil in all of us, and indeed what it relies on in order to continue, but is that really how a humane and civilised society should behave?

We are now in the grip of 3 crises - Covid, capitalism and climate change. It’s crunch time. We must keep the pressure on and show solidarity with one another to form a better society, secure homes, fairer workplaces and a safe world.

Below are some of the campaigns we’ve supported throughout the summer...

#BLM

Black Lives Matter protests sprang up across the UK after the death of George Floyd. People in many towns in the North came out to ‘take a knee’ to show their support for black victims of police brutality.

We demand justice for all victims of racist police forces and an end to institutional racism.

Tenants Union

With a severe lack of social housing in Greater Manchester, and few concessions to tenants during the crisis, Greater Manchester Tenants Union, along with GM Law Centre and GM Housing Action organised a protest outside the civil justice centre on Bridge Street West. Tenants live under the shadow of eviction every day, many of them key workers or unemployed because of the crisis and in rent arrears.

We demand a permanent solution to the risk of losing our homes due to coronavirus.

Go North West

Regular protests and direct action have been taking place since August at Queens Road Depot in Cheetham Hill. Go North West, which owns the franchise are adopting a ‘fire and rehire’ policy, where staff are fired and then re-employed on lower wages and worse conditions. To make matters worse, they have suspended Unite union rep, Colin Hayden on spurious claims.

We demand the re-instatement of their rep and an end to the threat of fire and rehire.

Palestine

Regular protests are taking place against the bombing of Gaza and Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems in Oldham.

The supply of arms to Israel, the theft of Palestinian land and the relentless persecution of the Palestinian people must stop.

Debenhams

Every Saturday for the last month there has been a protest outside Debenhams, where workers, many of whom had worked at the store for decades, were made redundant with just 3 days notice.

We demand redundancy pay or reinstatement for workers in the face of Debenhams profits.

NHS

The NHS is on the frontline of this crisis. Doctors, nurses, porters, cleaners and other support staff have endured long hours with limited PPE and low wages. Respect for the NHS is understandably huge and these frequent protests have been well attended by unions, campaign groups, community groups and the public.

We demand a pay rise for NHS and care workers, proper PPE to protect them and their families and all parts of the NHS to be brought back under public control.

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