Massive March and Rally in London: WORKERS DEMAND BETTER!

Derby delegates joined tens of thousands of trades unionists for a march and rally in London on Saturday 18 June. The TUC had called trades unionists from all sectors and the labour movement responded with enthusiasm, anger against being asked to take pay cuts while billionaires get richer and corporate profits get fatter - and numbers.

Derby sent four coaches annd we had a good sized delegation from Derby NEU. The NEU led the education bloc on the demonstration and it was BIG! We have some video clips from the day below.

For those of us who were on our first demonstration, perhaps learning that sometimes you CAN play in the road, even outside Parliament, was an important one!

The cost of living crisis is hitting all workers. It's up to us in the trades union movement, who have the collective strength to get a pay rise, to show the way to the wider working class who perhaps have never thought about joining a union or are too afraid to join a union. All workers have the strength to get a better deal, the difference is one of organisation.

So what came out of the demonstration?

Confidence - everyone spoke about the way they felt a sense of solidarity, that there were many many other workers who felt the same as them and needed the pay rise that they also need.

The need to organise for our pay ballot in the autumn! At Conference at Easter we agreed to call a ballot for industrial action if pay for all teachers did not match inflation and to campaign for a 10% pay rise for support staff. In school meetings this term the sense of anger and need for a pay rise has been palpable. Members have been ready to take action over pay. Now we need to take the energy and anger, and the inspiration that the RMT is supplying and build for a successful strike ballot this autumn! The NASUWT have said they will also now be balloting around the same time. We need to look for opportunities to work together and build united industrial action that will help us to win more quickly.

Solidarity - Derby Committee voted to donate £500 to the RMT strike fund this week and issue a statement of solidarity with the RMT. We stand with the RMT and will do what we can to support their action and campaign. Assistant Secretary David Boulter got to the first picket in Derby on Tuesday morning - another delegation will be going on Saturday - join us!