A group of 30 union leaders and campaigners in Northampton have been urged to become part of a “mass movement” to fight cuts to front line services.
A public meeting was held today in the Northampton Friends Meeting House in the town centre to discuss the Government’s welfare reforms.
One of the speakers at the event was Neil Faulkner, from the Coalition of Resistance, who said people in Northampton needed to join a “mass action” to fight the cuts to public sector services and benefits.
Mr Faulkner said: “We need to build a mass movement that will fight every cut to public service. From town to town we need to build a resistance and create a movement which will be a lot stronger if we work together.
“We need to fight for an alternative form of capitalism that will benefit the workers rather than financial interest. This is going to be a long, hard and bitter struggle and may take decades to achieve.”
Mr Faulkner urged union leaders in the town to attend the People’s Assembly Against Austerity at Westminster Hall on June 22.
The event is being organised by the Coalition of Resistance and aims to provide a national forum for people promoting anti-austerity views.
The meeting also heard speeches by John Smith, of Disabled People Against Cuts, and a Fran Heathcote, from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCU)
Ron Mendel, of Northampton Trades Union Council which organised the event, said a protest was planned outside County Hall at 9am on Thursday ahead of the budget discussions by Northamptonshire County Council members.
Mr Mendel said: “It was a good discussion and has allowed links to be made between a number of unions and groups. To have 30 people attend, it could have been better, but is not bad.”
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