Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
By Swansea Socialist Party reporters
Monday 10th October saw 100 or so trade unionists and community campaigners attend a rally jointly hosted by Swansea Trades Council and Wales TUC as part of the We Demand Better roadshow campaign.
Chaired by WTUC GS Shav Taj, Speakers Included PCS GS Mark Serwotka, Kevin Courtney GS of the NEU, John Leech AGS of the RMT, Local Nurse and Unison Vice President Libby Nolan and local branch secretaries of CWU and ASLEF amongst others from across the movement.
Fighting words on coordination, updates on the ongoing disputes in rail and communication, laying the ground for upcoming ballots in health, civil service and education and examples of the stark reality of the cost of living crisis where central themes running through the contributions of the 15 strong top table.
Charlie Wells of Youth Fight For Jobs and the Socialist Party in Swansea highlighted the stark reality facing young people in the midst of the cost of living crisis in and out of the workplace, and explored the difficulties of organising young people in hospitality and other precarious sectors.
The Rally was closed by Gareth Bromhall, Secretary of Swansea Trades Council who drove home the importance of coordinated trade union action on a local and national level, the key role that Trades Councils have in support, solidarity and coordination locally.
Gareth, Branch Chair of the Socialist Party in Swansea finished his contribution by raising the demand for the WTUC to call a national demonstration in Cardiff, drawing together the strength of the trade union movement from across Wales to put pressure on the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff on pay and conditions on devolved issues like Health and Education and to send a message to Westminster that the Welsh working class are on the March.
