About the NSSN Anti-Cuts Campaign

We face the biggest onslaught on our public services since the 1920s as the representatives of the bosses in the form of the Tory-Liberal coalition government try and make us pay for a crisis caused by their class. Fighting against the cuts is the biggest and most pressing challenge facing working class people in Britain today.

The National Shop Stewards Network launched its Anti-Cuts Campaign on Saturday 22 January 2011 to help bring trade unionists and community campaigners together to fight to save all jobs and services. Nearly 600 shop stewards/workplace reps, community campaigners and students debated the proposal to launch the campaign. After a full discussion, the trade union delegates at the Conference voted to launch the anti-cuts campaign by 305 votes to 89. An Anti-Cuts Campaign committee was elected to help organise the work; you can see details of those elected to this committee below.  

Our NSSN campaign has been launched on a clear 'Oppose ALL cuts' platform and therefore calls on Labour councils to refuse to implement the cuts. We will organise protests and support industrial action against them if they vote to pass the attacks onto workers’ jobs and services, as well as campaigning against the vicious attacks of the ConDems. 

NSSN Anti-Cuts Campaign Committee

TRADE UNION SECTION

Alex Gordon is a train driver and President of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT). He was an active campaigner against Thatcher’s poll tax and has taken part in many trade union campaigns for rights at work and against privatisation, outsourcing and cuts to public services.

Rob Williams was the Unite convenor at the Linamar (ex-Ford/Visteon) car plant in Swansea, was sacked in 2009, then reinstated after his members voted to strike, now made redundant Dec 2010. He is Vice-chair of the NSSN and convenor of the NSSN Anti-Cuts Campaign.

Glenn Kelly is an elected staff rep for 4,000 council workers in Bromley. Unison unlawfully banned him from the union's National Executive.

Martin Powell-Davies has been Lewisham NUT Divisional Secretary since 1993 and was elected to the NUT National Executive in 2010. He is also editor of the 'Classroom Teacher' newsletter and Convenor of Socialist Party Teachers.

Ben Sprung is a fire-fighter at Kentish Town and London Regional Organiser for the FBU.

Katrine Williams has been a PCS activist for 18 years, currently PCS Wales Chair and PCS DWP Group Vice President, and also chair Cardiff against the Cuts.

ANTI-CUTS CAMPAIGNS SECTION

Toby Abse is a History Lecture at Goldsmiths UCU rep. He stood as a candidate in May 2010 council elections for Lewisham People Before Profit and is an active member of Lewisham Anti-Cuts Alliance.

Cllr Dave Nellist was elected to Coventry Council in 1998. Previously a Labour MP, he is now member of the Socialist Party, chair of a Unite branch & acting chair of the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition.

Terry Pearce is Chair of Bracknell Defend Our Community Services, Chair of Bracknell UNITE, a member of the National Pensioners Convention and is on the Regional Committee and Chair of Bracknell Forest Over 50 Forum. He is also an Officer of the Campaign for a New Workers Party.

Lenny Shail is a member of 'Warwick Uni Against the Cuts' and 'Coventry against the cuts'. Coventry Youth fight for jobs/education organiser and Member of CWU Coventry branch.

Nancy Taaffe is a library assistant, Joint-Campaigns Officer in Unison and Joint-convenor for libraries. She is also Co-ordinator of Waltham Forest Ant-Cuts Union.

Ex-Officio from NSSN Steering Committee

Linda Taaffe is secretary NSSN, a Teacher, on the Waltham Forest NUT EC and was elected to NUT National Executive 1998-2008.

Pro-Tem Members can be co-opted as and when necessary.