A Cambuslang trade unionist has launched his campaign ahead of a potential Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
The Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) steering committee has agreed that Chris Sermanni, a leading trade unionist and a Cambuslang resident, will stand if there is a Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
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Sermanni is a shop steward convener for Glasgow City Unison and played a leading role in the 2015 successful Homeless Caseworkers strike in Glasgow, alongside being a member of Socialist Party Scotland.
The TUSC candidate spoke on his campaign and why he believes he is the best choice, he said: “This likely by-election is taking place amidst an unbearable cost of living crisis for working-class people.
“The Tories’ pro-bosses policies have meant economic disaster, increases in poverty, inflation and devastating cuts to our NHS and council services.
“In the wake of an unprecedented strike wave by trade unionists over the past year, the need for a workers’ election alternative has never been greater. That’s why Scottish TUSC is standing in this election.
“With the SNP in a political crisis, rooted in their implementation of austerity and their support for anti-working class policies generally, there has never been a more important time to offer a socialist alternative.
“And nor will that come from the neo-Blairite dominated Labour Party, both at the UK and Scottish level. All vestiges of Corbynism have been eliminated. Labour offers no alternative for the working class.”
And he added: “That’s why I’m prepared to stand on policies like the need for the trade unions to launch a new party for working-class people that would support no cuts budgets, for above-inflation pay and benefit rises, socialist nationalisation of energy, the banks, big industries like Royal Mail as well as the right to a second independence referendum and an independent socialist Scotland.”
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