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TUSC will oppose all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions. Reject increases in council tax, rent and service charges to compensate for government cuts. Vote against the privatisation of council jobs and services.
TUSC has had hundreds of declarations of support. You can support TUSC as an individual trade unionist or socialist, or apply for your organisation to join TUSC.
TUSC has no big business sponsorship. TUSC is a coalition for the millions not millionaires. Every donation to TUSC strengthens our fight for a better future.
Printed and published by TUSC, 17 Colebert House, Colebert Avenue, London E1 4JP
Telephone: 020 7702 8667
email: info@tusc.org.uk
Press: 020 8988 8773
With no mandate for Tory austerity there should be no more cuts budgets from Labour councils
Posted: 23 June 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee, meeting this week for the first time since the election, has hailed the phenomenal support achieved for Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity policies in the June 8th poll. That support, together with the increase he is receiving post-election, can propel him to victory in the next general election and mean an end to government-led austerity.
TUSC campaigns for another general election to be called as soon as possible. In the meantime, we believe that the level of support for Jeremy Corbyn's policies should be the signal for Labour-led councils to call an immediate halt to cuts to local public services.
The TUSC national chairperson Dave Nellist, a Labour MP from 1983-1992 and a former backbench colleague of Jeremy Corbyn, said:
That was then, this is now - TUSC's 2017 election broadcast
Posted: 26 May 2017
In the May 2015 general election the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) stood enough candidates to qualify for a party election broadcast, which was met with wide acclaim - certainly Sandy and Sandra from Gogglebox thought it was great! The four-minute broadcast can be viewed on the TUSC website at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcEMrCTVRdg. It's still worth watching two years on.
But of course things have changed since 2015. Jeremy Corbyn has put radical ideas like free education, opposing wars for oil, taxing the rich and public ownership back on the agenda. And TUSC is not standing candidates in the general election. But we've still done a broadcast! This time explaining why TUSC is fighting for a Corbyn-led government with socialist policies on June 8. Watch it by clicking below.
TUSC explains general election stance on the BBC's Sunday Politics show
Posted: 14 May 2017
Following last week's decision by the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee not to stand candidates in June's general election (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/17366/11-05-2017/tusc-confirms-no-candidates-in-june-and-full-support-for-a-corbyn-led-government-with-socialist-policies), TUSC chair, Dave Nellist, was invited onto the BBC's Sunday Politics show for the Midlands region. Watch the full piece by clicking below.
TUSC chair Dave Nellist & Jeremy Corbyn, September 2016
Posted: 11 May 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee today confirmed that the left-wing alliance will not be standing candidates in the general election.
TUSC, co-founded by the late Bob Crow in 2010, was the sixth-biggest party on the ballot paper in May 2015, with its general election and council candidates polling 118,125 votes. This time, however, TUSC will be working all out to try and get Jeremy Corbyn into Number Ten on June 8th.
The TUSC national chairperson Dave Nellist, a Labour MP from 1983-1992 and a former backbench colleague of Jeremy Corbyn, said:
The TUSC results from Thursday
Posted: 8 May 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) stood 78 candidates across 24 local authorities in last Thursday's local council elections, as well as candidates for the mayor of Doncaster and the Liverpool City Region Metro-Mayor. Overall the TUSC candidates won a total of 15,407 votes.
A report of the campaign, with details of the full results of every TUSC candidate, has been prepared by the TUSC National Election Agent (see the draft report at http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/400.pdf), and will be discussed at the TUSC national steering committee meeting this week.
When Theresa May made her surprise announcement of a general election in the middle of the local election campaign it was obvious that, whatever the TUSC candidates did, this would cut across the council contests.
Vote TUSC on Thursday - send out a message for a 100% anti-austerity alternative
Posted: 3 May 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) has 78 candidates standing in Thursday's local council elections, contesting seats across 24 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
TUSC is also standing in two of the mayoral elections taking place on May 4th, with the former Unison national executive member Roger Bannister contesting the new Liverpool City Region 'Metro-Mayor' position and NHS worker Steve Williams standing for the mayor of Doncaster. A full list of all the TUSC candidates can be found at http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/398.pdf
The general election, called after the local elections were already under way, has obviously cut across the council contests. Driving the Tories out on June 8th and the election of a Corbyn-led Labour government will clearly create the best conditions to defend local public services. But every TUSC vote on Thursday will be an early declaration of support for Jeremy Corbyn's anti-austerity policies - policies that are being attacked relentlessly not just by the Tories but by Labour's right-wing Blairites too.
Socialist Steve's message to the Doncaster Chamber of Commerce
Steve Williams, TUSC candidate
Posted: 25 April 2017
Steve Williams, the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate to become Doncaster's mayor, had to send his apologies to the Chamber of Commerce mayoral hustings at the Chamber's Business conference at the Legacy Centre on Friday 21 April.
Steve is not a politician. He works as a mental health nurse in the NHS. He was rostered to work on Friday and like most workers cannot take time off and so was unable to attend.
However, Steve took up the invite from the Chamber of Commerce to explain his policies for local businesses in a 350 word written statement, policies which TUSC believes would benefit the Doncaster economy, create jobs and raise wages, and stimulate small businesses in the local area. These include refusing to carry out the Tory government imposed cuts in council spending, implementing a £10 an hour minimum wage, a mass council house building programme and inviting small businesses to contribute to his People's Budget.
TUSC chair Dave Nellist welcomes general election chance to drive out the Tories
TUSC chair, Dave Nellist
Posted: 22 April 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national chairperson, Dave Nellist, today welcomed the general election called for June 8th as a chance to drive out the Tory government and reverse their vicious austerity agenda.
Dave, a Labour MP from 1983-1992, urged his former backbench colleague Jeremy Corbyn to fight the election on clear socialist policies, pledging to support him in resisting the efforts of Blairite MPs to water down the anti-austerity platform which won Jeremy his Labour leadership victories.
"According to the annual Sunday Times Rich List survey the wealth of the thousand richest people in Britain has more than doubled since the Tories came to power in 2010", said Dave. "Levying capital gains tax even just on that increased wealth would alone bring in over £80 billion for extra public spending. Austerity is 'working' only for the rich and a new course is needed.
TUSC backs RMT Save the Guards campaign, while local Labour party blocks debate
Posted: 14 April 2017
The RMT transport workers' union has made a direct appeal to Steve Rotheram MP, the Labour candidate in the Liverpool City Region 'Metro-Mayor' contest, to guarantee that there will be a second safety-critical crew member aboard every Merseyrail train if he wins the election on May 4th.
Pointing out that "the travelling public are behind our campaign" Mick Cash, the RMT general secretary, said that "now is the ideal moment for Steve to say he is with the disabled passengers, the women travelling alone, the elderly, the young - in fact all sections of the community that use the rail network, who overwhelmingly want a guard on every train" (RMT Press Release, 12th April).
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) Metro-Mayor candidate Roger Bannister, a former member of the UNISON national executive council, today welcomed the RMT's call. "Merseyside TUSC has been pursuing Steve Rotheram ever since he was selected as Labour's candidate last Autumn to find out where he stood on the RMT's Save Our Guards campaign", Roger said. "Now, with just three weeks to go to polling day, as the RMT puts it, he really must say which side he is on".
'Socialist Steve' making an impact in Doncaster mayoral campaign
Doncaster Care UK workers demonstration, 2014
Posted: 11 April 2017
It's been a great first week for Steve Williams' Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) campaign for the mayor of Doncaster. Steve won the drawing of lots so his election address will appear first in the mayoral booklet that will be posted out to all 220,000 voters. He is currently in the lead in the on-line poll being run by the Doncaster Free Press.
More importantly, Steve is winning support on the ground. The local RMT rail union branch is strongly backing TUSC, and TUSC backed the Northern Rail guards on their strike picket line on Saturday before petitioning in the town centre to Keep Guards on Trains.
As chair of the Doncaster District & Bassetlaw UNISON health branch, Steve has the backing of Care UK workers who three years ago took 90 days strike action against pay cuts and the privatisation of the NHS (see picture above). Now the Doncaster NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has announced more rationing of routine operations and procedures, and this is before the 'Sustainability and Transformation Plans' (STP) cuts are implemented.
Local elections 2017: final list of TUSC candidates
Fighting austerity at the ballot box
Posted: 10 April 2017
There are 78 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidates standing in the local elections taking place on May 4th, contesting elections across 24 local authorities.
In Wales there are 22 council candidates standing this time, contesting seats in five local authorities. In England there are 37 candidates, standing across 13 councils. In addition, TUSC is fielding candidates for the mayor of Doncaster and the new directly-elected mayor of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (the 'Metro-Mayor').
Scottish TUSC, which organises autonomously, is standing 19 candidates, contesting seats across six councils. For further information about the campaign in Scotland e-mail scottishtusc@gmail.com or call 07889-135-533.
TUSC to challenge for the Merseyside 'metro-mayor'
Roger Bannister at UNISON conference
Posted: 1 April 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is on the ballot paper for the inaugural election of the Liverpool City Region directly-elected Mayor (the 'Metro-Mayor').
Roger Bannister, a member of the UNISON national executive council from the formation of the public services' union in 1993 until his retirement this February, will represent TUSC's anti-austerity socialist message in the May 4th contest.
Roger was a Labour Party member from 1970 until his expulsion in 1986 for his role in the struggle of the Liverpool Labour council against Margaret Thatcher's government. He stood as the TUSC candidate for the Mayor of Liverpool council in May 2016, polling 4,950 votes (5.1%), coming in ahead of the Tories in Britain's eighth biggest city.
NHS worker socialist Steve to stand for mayor of Doncaster
Steve Williams
Posted: 1 April 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is pleased to announce that Steve Williams will be standing as the TUSC candidate for Doncaster Mayor in the May elections.
Steve is the chair of the Doncaster District & Bassetlaw UNISON health branch, with a decades-long record of fighting for the NHS.
Steve says: "I've worked in the NHS for 27 years as a mental health nurse. I see first hand the devastating effects of the cuts on the most vulnerable in society.
TUSC steering committee agrees candidates for May's council elections
Posted: 27 March 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee met on March 22nd to discuss candidates for the local council elections taking place in May.
Twenty-two candidate applications were approved to contest seats across five local authorities in Wales, and 42 candidates - across eleven councils - in England. Details can be found at http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/397.pdf.
Scottish TUSC, organising autonomously, has approved 19 candidates to date, fighting seats in six councils. For further details of the campaign in Scotland e-mail scottishtusc@gmail.com or call 07889-135-533.
Scottish TUSC agrees core policies for May's local elections
Scottish TUSC on the march
Posted: 6 March 2017
Scottish TUSC activists gathered in Glasgow on February 25th to discuss plans for a 100% anti-austerity, socialist election challenge in May's Scottish local council elections.
A draft manifesto for the elections had been discussed by Scottish TUSC's constituent organisations, the RMT transport workers' union, Socialist Party Scotland, and the Socialist Workers Party, and was agreed by the conference (see below).
The conference heard from a number of trade union speakers from the frontline in the battle against austerity. Dave Semple, a member of the PCS union's DWP Group Executive Committee, speaking in a personal capacity, explained the union's campaign against the mass closures of DWP and HMRC offices and sites. Dave will be a TUSC candidate in Glasgow.
TUSC backs Irish MPs' call to Corbyn for an internationalist, anti-austerity Brexit stand
Posted: 1 March 2017
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) today added its support to an appeal to Jeremy Corbyn by socialist members of the Irish parliament (Teachtaí Dála - TDs) to use the Brexit negotiations as an opportunity for an international anti-austerity campaign.
The TDs, members of the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit (AAA-PBP) group in the Irish parliament (Dáil Éireann), had written to Jeremy Corbyn earlier this year.
They suggested that a proposed European conference hosted by the Labour leader should be used to discuss how to "promote the case for a fundamental recasting of European relationships, encompassing your stated opposition to EU-driven neo-liberalism and austerity and your support for public ownership" (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/txt/396.pdf for the full text).
Campaign for a Sheffield Peoples Budget says 'end the Amey tree-cutting PFI'
Sheffield TUSC on a recent trees protest
Posted: 28 February 2017
A well-attended Campaign for a Sheffield Peoples Budget public meeting on Monday sent a clear message to Sheffield's Labour council ahead of their budget setting meeting on Friday 3 March: 'Labour council, grow a backbone. Stand up to Tory cuts!'
Around 40 local trade unionists and community campaigners heard speeches from Clare Goonan (PCS union, Save Eastern Avenue Job Centre); Julie Marsland and Stella Garnham (Unison, Save Hurlfield View); Tim Jones (Sheffield Mental Health Action Group); Chris Rust (trees campaigner); Pete Davies (GMB union at Veolia and Amey); and Neil Carbutt (Fire Brigades Union).
They all explained the effects of Tory government imposed austerity cuts on the most vulnerable people in Sheffield, but were also scathing about the Labour council passing on these cuts without any resistance.
What is the establishment media on? The BBC, TUSC, and the DUP's 'mystery funders'
Posted: 27 February 2017
Last week it was revealed that the right-wing Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) of Northern Ireland had spent £282,000 to pay for a pro-Leave newspaper cover-wrap advert in June's EU referendum - for papers distributed, not in Northern Ireland, but in London and elsewhere in Britain.
This apparently bizarre move seems to have been an attempt by wealthy individuals to intervene in the EU debate while keeping their anonymity - by exploiting the fact that, unlike elsewhere in the UK, political parties in Northern Ireland can receive large donations (of more than £7,500) without details being published by the Electoral Commission.
Under pressure the DUP are now claiming that the money came from the 'Constitutional Research Council', headed by the businessman and former vice-chair of the Scottish Tories, Richard Cook. But not before BBC journalists got it into their heads that TUSC were the mystery funders of the DUP!
No Southern Rail on Merseyside - TUSC backs RMT campaign to save train guards
RMT president Sean Hoyle
Posted: 25 February 2017
The RMT transport workers' union is stepping up its campaign to save the safety critical role of train guards on Britain's railways, the issue that lies behind the long-running dispute on Southern Rail. But it's not just Southern that is putting railway safety at risk.
The Northern Rail franchise awarded last year to the Arriva train operating company includes plans to switch some routes to Driver Only Operation (DOO). And now the RMT is in dispute with Merseyrail, after its failure to provide assurances about the train guards' role when it introduces new rolling stock on the network.
The RMT general secretary Mick Cash has made the union's position on DOO "perfectly clear" to Merseyrail (RMT press release, 2nd February). "We will not agree to any extensions of DOO and will fight to retain the safety critical role of the guard and to keep a guard on the train", he said. On March 7th the RMT will be staging a 9-30am protest in Derby Square, Liverpool to take its campaign to the public.
Fighting cuts at the ballot box - first TUSC candidates for May's elections announced
Posted: 21 February 2017
Last week's meeting of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) national steering committee approved the first batch of candidates to contest the local elections taking place on Thursday May 4th.
The February 15th meeting was the first steering committee since the TUSC conference in January, which set the parameters for TUSC electoral challenges this year (see http://www.tusc.org.uk/17332/05-02-2017/tusc-conference-debates-election-plans-and-anti-cuts-campaigning).
In line with these parameters, none of the TUSC candidates approved at the February 15th meeting are contesting seats in which the Labour candidate came out in support of Jeremy Corbyn in last year's Labour leadership contest.
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