The last month, however, has seen a number of protests and campaigns in Cambridge against some of the latest attacks. On the 8^th and 9^th of March, PCS union members went out on strike nationally, in protest at the government’s attempts to chance the civil service compensation scheme. There were a number of picket lines over the two days in locations across the city, and Socialist Appeal members, including a PCS member, were present to show their support. The turnout at the pickets was encouraging, and there was plenty of solidarity shown by other workers, such as the postal workers and the rubbish collectors, both of whom turned around and refused to cross the lines. 

On the 18^th March, Cambridge Labour Representation Committee, which includes several supporters of Socialist Appeal, organised a meeting to campaign against the potential closure of Marshalls Aerospace, a local, family owned manufacturing company that employs approximately 1,700 staff. A number of the workers are in Unite union, and so Jerry Hicks came to speak about his campaign for General Secretary of Unite. Jerry’s speech was electrifying and truly inspirational, trying together the situation at Marshalls with all the various other struggles that have taken place in the last year, such as the blacklist of construction workers, the closure of Diageo whisky bottling plants in Scotland, and the occupations at Visteon and Vestas.

Jerry highlighted the need for trade union leaders who actually listen to and represent their members, pointing out that part of this means taking the wage of an average worker, not a six-figure salary. He called for Unite to be a fighting union, for workers to fight back against attacks, and for union leaders to support action taken by members, starting with the repeal of anti-trade union laws. For example, during the occupation of Vestas, the Unite leadership failed to come out in support of the occupying workers because it was deemed an “illegal” action. In the end, it was the RMT (the railways and transport union) that came out to support the workers in a factory that produces wind turbine blades! Meanwhile, in the media at the moment, we have an unelected prime minister (Gordon Brown) and an unelected transport minister (Lord Adonis) coming out against a completely democratic strike by the BA cabin crew. 81% of cabin crew voted for strike action on a 79% turnout – a level of support that Brown can only dream of for the upcoming general election. Jerry gave his support to the BA workers, who are, incidentally, also members of Unite.

As well as campaigning against job losses in private industry, Cambridge residents are also coming out against cuts to the public services. On March 20^th, the “Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts” campaign was launched with a public meeting and demonstration. The campaign has been called in reaction to the announcement of £130 million in cuts to local services, resulting in at least 300 job cuts in the council and beyond. Members of Unison, NUT, and PCS unions gave reports on the various ways in which the community and amenities would be affected, as well as giving an outline of the attack that is taking place nationwide through cuts and privatisation.

People are quickly realising that all these different struggles are linked. At every meeting, workers and youth are mentioning the bailout of the banks, and are questioning why our services and society are run for profit, not for need. The point was made at the meeting against local cuts that workers, trade unionists, and socialists have won many reforms over the course of history; however, these reforms will be rolled back by the ruling class unless there is a fundamental change in society. For this reason, we must link the fight against cuts to the fight for socialism.