MAY 2012 LOCAL ELECTIONS

No to Cuts and Privatisation! Jobs, not hand-outs to Banks! Make the Bosses Pay!

In the May 2011 local elections, the Rotherham Socialist Party stood in the local elections as a Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidate. We got 211 votes (5.1% of the vote). This confirmed to us that there is an appetite for radical change in Rotherham. We were encouraged by the result, and we were grateful for all the support we received We plan to stand again in the same ward, but we would like to involve more people from all organisations that support TUSC and other groups and individuals with similar goals; to create a solid basis that we could use to build a socialist alternative across Rotherham. Therefore we would like to invite you to a TUSC organising meeting to discuss the 2012 campaign and how we can coordinate our action.

TUSC Organising Meeting:

Bridge Inn, Tuesday, 31st Jan. 7:30pm.
www.tusc.org.uk

Stand up to the Con-Dem government! For councillors who refuse to cut!

The TUSC stands in opposition to public spending cuts and privatisation, calls for investment in publicly owned and controlled renewable energy, the repeal of the anti-trade union laws, and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan.
The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition policy platform for the 2012 local elections in England and Wales: - Oppose all cuts to council jobs, services, pay and conditions - we reject the claim that 'some cuts' are necessary to our services. - Reject increases in council tax, rent and service charges to compensate for government cuts. - Vote against the privatisation of council jobs and services, or the transfer of council services to 'social enterprises' or 'arms-length' management organisations, which are first steps to privatisation. - Use all the legal powers available to councils, including powers to refer local NHS decisions, initiate referenda and organise public commissions and consultations, to oppose both the cuts and government polices which centrally impose the transfer of public services to private bodies. - When faced with government cuts to council funding, councils should refuse to implement the cuts. We will support councils which in the first instance use their reserves and prudential borrowing powers to avoid passing them on - while arguing that the best way to mobilise the mass campaign that is necessary to defeat the cuts is to set a budget that meets the needs of the local community and demands that the government makes up the shortfall. Contact us: Write to TUSC, 17 Colebert House, Colebert Avenue, London E1 4JP, e-mail info@tusc.org.uk or Telephone: 020 7702 8667