250 people from several campaign groups chanted: “Kirklees Council, shame on you, shame on you for turning blue”. We questioned each councillor, asking them not to vote for cuts, and instead save 750 jobs. Many people made deputations to speak to the full council meeting, including two from Unison trade union. But the council refused…
Simone Buitendijk has resigned as vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, following motions of ‘no confidence’ from all three unions on campus, Unison, Unite, and University and College Union (UCU). Since taking the role in 2020, she has overseen the largest concerted strike action at the university in memory. As part of the national strike…
Days 40 to 42 of strike action by Unison members at University of Leeds, as part of the national pay dispute, targeted the inputting of marks at the university in the run up to the release of students results on Thursday 13th June. Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party Combined with the ongoing marking and assessment…
The following is the text of the lead article of issue 2 of Leeds Socialist Party’s strike bulletin at the University of Leeds. Action works! Despite requesting the Vice-Chancellor of University of Leeds, Simone Buitendijk meet them when putting in the two week notice for beginning their all out strike on 15th June, it took…
Historic action began at University of Leeds on Thursday 15th June with UCU escalating their action to an indefinite strike action following the implementation of 100% pay deductions from university management for staff taking part in the marking and assesment boycott, whilst Unison won a second reballot for the first time and began a programme…
Socialist Party members in West Yorkshire visited Unison picket lines at Wakefield Ambulance station, Richmond Hill Ambulance station in Leeds and Yorkshire Ambulance Service headquarters as they took their second round of 12 hour strike action on 23rd January. Iain Dalton, Socialist Party Yorkshire secretary Across the picket lines we visited there was a growing…
“Is it really that terrible?” were the words of Leeds University Vice Chancellor Simone Buitendijk to students occupying her office a month ago in response to questions about the pay and conditions of university workers. Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist Party It was also the headline on the leaflet Unison members were handing out explaining why…
“Claps don’t pay our bills” and “Nurses are for life, not just for pandemics” were amongst some of the slogans on homemade placards at the 250 strong demonstration of NHS & care workers fighting for a pay rise. This turnout would have been even bigger if it weren’t for the local lockdowns imposed on some…
The Covid-19 crisis has pushed councils up and down the country into a new financial crisis. The Centre for Progressive Policy thinktank expects eight out of ten tier-one local authorities to face the threat of bankruptcy. Labour-led Leeds City Council is the biggest of the councils to publicly raise this possibility. Iain Dalton, Leeds Socialist…
Leeds Socialist Party members attended the public meeting of the Leeds Trades Union Council (Leeds TUC) via Zoom on Wednesday 29th April. Over 40 trade union reps and activists from across the region came together under the banner of “Testing, PPE – Put our Safety First – Organise in your Workplace”. Michael Docherty, PCS delegate…
