| 15,000 angry teachers marched in London on the day of the NUT and NASUWT’s third regional strike. Over 2,500 marched in Bristol, 2,000 in Brighton, 400 in Portsmouth, 200 in Southampton, 100 in Oxford. The demonstrations were lively and chants such as “Get Gove Out!” rang out on them. Teachers are striking because they are furious at what education minister Michael Gove is doing to education and attacks on their pay.National strikes will be needed to beat Michael Gove. The London demonstration came the day after over 5,000 firefighters marched along almost the identical route in protest at attacks on their pensions and cuts to the fire service. On the same day the CWU union announced that 78 percent of those who had voted in their ballot for strikes had voted YES. A strike in Royal Mail has now been called for Monday 4 November. Workers in the universities have voted for strikes in the UCU, Unison and Unite unions. A joint strike has been called on Thursday 31 October. Now is the time to link up all the fights and for the unions to coordinate strikes if we are going to stop the Tories. Over 5,000 firefighters march through central London 17 October 2013 Over 5,000 FBU members joined the national demonstration against attacks on their pensions, fire service cuts, job cuts and privatisation in London on Wednesday 16 October.Many firefighters wore FBU t-shirts which read, “We rescue people, not banks” Firefighters are set to strike again for five hours on Saturday 19 October from 18:30. Unite the Reistance is encouraging all trade unionists and activists to visit their picket lines. As the firefighters’ rally in Westminster cam to an end, the CWU union announced their would be a strike in Royal Mail on Monday 4 November following a 78 percent vote for strikes. |