Related Articles
A Lancaster public meeting calling for political action on cost-of-living issues including work and pay went ahead this week with speakers from various sectors including the Royal Mail, railways, telecoms, care, colleges and Lancaster University.
Around 100 people attended the Enough is Enough public meeting at Lancaster Town Hall. Green Party Coun Caroline Jackson, the leader of Lancaster City Council, was due to speak along with Lancaster & Fleetwood Labour MP Cat Smith.
But they withdrew on advice to avoid party politics until after the Queen’s funeral. Instead, they passed statements of support to the organisers including Lancaster & Morecambe Trades Council, to be read-out at the meeting.
READ MORE: New councillor says Lancaster people and politics have brought her new hope
Enough is Enough is a national campaign led by trade unions and other organisations calling for action on rising bills, wages, dependency on food banks, poor housing and tax.
Eugene Doherty, of Lancaster & Morecambe Trades Council, said: “It was a good meeting with plenty of input from the audience. We had a range of speakers across different industries and trade unions.
“The mood was about togetherness – solidarity – to support each other in tackling the problems face. We are all suffering wherever we are, with issues around pay and working conditions, rising bills, housing, the cost-of-living and other issues.
“Speakers included people who are currently on strike or have been on strike this summer, such as postal and railway workers, and others from unions which are currently being balloted or are due to hold ballots about strikes, such as in education. “
Speakers included James Attwood, a union representative from Royal Mail in Lancaster, Darren Ireland of the rail union RMT, Carl Webb of post and telecoms union CWU, which has members at BT and Openreach; Joanne Thompson from the Unison union which represents care workers, Siobhan Collingwood of the NEU education union and Julie Hearn of the UCU union linked to Lancaster University.
Others included Elizabeth Mills of Extinction Rebellion and Sam Ud-Din of Stand Up To Racism. Mr Doherty said a collection was held for local workers on strike, raising £200.
Enough is Enough is planning national protests on Saturday, October 1. Lancaster is set to see further activity including an event that day, he said.
Regarding the Enough is Enough public meeting, Coun Jackson told LancsLive: “The advice both from local government and from political parties is that until after the Queen’s funeral, we should take part only in civic or commemorative events. I understand Cat Smith was not present at the Enough is Enough meeting for the same reason.”
Concerns and debate
In her Enough is Enough statement, Coun Jackson writes: “I cannot press on you too much the concerns I have as leader of the city council members and of the council officers as we try to respond to the crisis in the cost-of-living.
“This week, we brought to the council’s cabinet a report that highlighted the potential damage that rising prices, energy bills and potential reduction in all services present to our local people. We are determined to work in partnership with all those in our community who care as we do.
“I can and do believe that our communities will look-out for each other through that ‘spirit of radical generosity’ the World Energy Council spoke of this week. However we must look beyond crisis to providing a secure future.
“There is huge evidence that we are operating in a situation that leaves many, many local people in need. The city council willingly and efficiently has brought forward resources given by government and from our reserves to support local people through the Household Support Fund, our own hardship funds and council tax relief. Please be assured, our support is for everyone on low incomes and we will continue to support in practical and flexible ways such as creating or enhancing warm spaces.
“However we, along with our partners in the third sector, know that the cost-of-living crisis is affecting us deeply too. Alongside many agencies and charities, we face an uncertain future to the services we are proud to provide and welcome all those who will present this crisis with clarity to the decision-makers in our national community.
“I welcome The Enough is Enough movement and its related events,. At a time more suitable, I think it is important to be raising questions about dealing with the cost-of-living crisis for those hardest hit. Issues about minimum wage levels, pay differentials, the role of the unions, welfare benefit rates are indeed just some of the areas requiring examination. I look forward to further debate.”
Politics of pay
Councillors at Lancaster City Council recently supported a formal motion for local government workers to get a £2,000 rise. Labour councillors put forward the motion, which was supported by the others including the Greens and Lib-Dems. Conservative councillors opposed the move, arguing councillors should not take sides on pay issues and that higher wages could make inflation worse.
In recent weeks, Lancashire councils have been looking at practical steps to help people this autumn and winter, which may includes opening public buildings for people to stay warm . Some activates from the Covid pandemic or from food bank projects work possibly be applied to the new cost-of-living circumstances.
Cost-of-living issues continue to dominate many aspects of city council activity and were looked-at again by the cabinet this week.
READ NEXT:
