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NSSN statement on riots
9 August Back in September 2009
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber predicted that the government�s
cuts would lead to riots. His prediction has been borne out as riots
have broken out across London and other cities. The initial riots in
Tottenham in the borough of Haringey on the 6-7th August
were a consequence of the fatal shooting by police of 29 year old Mark
Duggan. Most of the rioting that has taken place so far has been in
areas of high deprivation such as Tottenham where 10,000 people in
Haringey are claiming jobseekers allowance.
Contrary to reports
from some politicians and media, the rioting and looting that took
place was not just the result of �outsiders� or �hooligans� but was a
spontaneous outpouring of the anger of sections of the local
population, particularly young people from every ethnic background.
Contrary to the media reports, these were not race riots but involved
young people from every ethnic background.
However, whilst rioting is an understandable reaction of rage to the
conditions so many working class people face it does not offer a way
forward. As a result of these riots local shops and services have been
badly hit and people have been burned out of their flats. During the
riots around London on Sunday night and since, several fire crews and
ambulance workers were attacked. There are also reports that a bus
driver was attacked before his bus was set on fire. These attacks are
completely unacceptable and make it even more urgent for the labour
movement to provide an alternative.
There is anger both with the police and the Independent Police
Complaints Commission over the death of Mark Duggan. The family is
angry that no-one from the police has discussed Mark�s death with
them. The protestors on Saturday evening were also angry that no
senior police officer was prepared to meet them then.
There is no
trust in the police, particularly following their lies about the
deaths of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005 and Ian Tomlinson last year
as well as many other incidences, including the framing of Winston
Silcott and the �Tottenham Three� during the Broadwater Farm riots of
1985, and their collusion with the Murdoch press.
There is growing anger against cuts to essential services. Issues
affecting young people include the closure of youth centres, the
attacks on EMA which help young people to continue their education and
of course youth unemployment where 914,000 young people between 16 and
24 are unemployed.. The government�s all-out assault on public
services includes cutting EMA and trebling university tuition fees to
�9000 a year.
Labour MPs such as David Lammy and Diane Abbott alongside Haringey
Labour council leader Claire Kober and Theresa May, the Tory Home
Secretary have condemned the rioting and looting. But what about the
looting of public services and jobs carried out by their parties
either through government or council cuts?
Whilst Brendan Barber had predicted these riots, he and the TUC have
not offered an alternative by demonstrating they are capable of
leading a movement to defend living conditions. Unfortunately, Barber
actually welcomed the below-inflation increases in the minimum wage.
The trade union movement must show there is an alternative in order to
counter frustration and social breakdown.
The huge demonstration on 26th March and the strike of
three quarters of a million teaching and civil service workers on 30th
June have given some idea of the strength that organised workers have.
A successful one-day public-sector strike will be a big step forward
in the battle against the cuts. That is why the NSSN is organizing a
lobby of the TUC on 11th September to demand that they name
the day for such action. A successful battle against the cuts
nationally and locally, whilst not solving all the problems that these
communities face, would be a big boost in the struggle to improve
ordinary people�s living conditions in the area.
WE
DEMAND:
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A genuinely independent inquiry led by the local community and trade
unions into the death of Mark Duggan.
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No to all cuts in jobs and services � youth service funding should
be re-instated.
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Demand back the money stolen by the government to bail out the
banks.
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Immediate re-housing by of all those who lost their homes as a
result of the rioting.
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Cancel tuition fees, for a proper living grant and re-instate the
educational maintenance allowance.
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The TUC to call a one-day strike of all public-sector trade unions
as the next step in the battle to defeat all cuts in jobs and
services.
John Vasey,
CWU Unit Rep, Wakefield Delivery Office, West Yorkshire
Tala Birch,
Unison steward, Brunel University branch
Laurence
Humphries,
Community
Les Woodward,
GMB, Remploy National Convenor
Dave Procter,
UCU, H&S Rep
Lukasz Czaja,
Unite
Glen Watson,
CWU,
Substitute IR Rep
Clive Walder,
CWU Assistant Secretary, Black Country and Worcester Branch
Tom Maltby,
UNITE
Tony Church,
PCS, DWP Leicestershire General Branch Vice-Chair
Martin
Powell-Davies,
NUT NEC
Pete McLaren,
NUT, Secretary Rugby TUSC and Rugby Against the Cuts
Helen
O'Connor,
UNISON,
Vice Chair South London and Maudsley Branch
Stephen
German,
UNITE
Bernie Lyons,
PCS, South West Regional Committee member
Matt Probert
Paul Reilly,
RMT,
Area Council Representative WCML South
Teresa
Mackay,
Vice President of Ipswich & Dist TUC
Mark
Evans,
Branch Secretary Carmarthenshire County Unison Branch
Martin Mayer,
UNITE Executive Council member
Scott McKie,
CWU, BT Workplace Rep,Coventry
Jim Philp,
RMT Branch Secretary, Fife & District.
Louise Cuffaro,
NUT Rep
Gurbinder
Gill,
RMT Health and Safety Rep for Revenue and Barrier Line Staff
Susanna
Farley,
Unison
Voluntary Sector Branch
Margie Arts,
Barrow and Furness Pensioners' Association
Nick Parker,
President Lincoln & District TUC
Hannah Basson,
Unison
Jan Underwood,
UCU
Lesley
Robinson,
Wrexham County UNISON Branch Chair
Sylvia May,
COMMUNITY
Paul Hunt,
Branch Officer, Coventry District Unison
(All support in a
personal capacity)
Add your support to this statement by emailing
your name, trade union and position to
[email protected].
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