United front can combat cuts

How can this be when Labour plans to make £34 million cuts in Southampton if elected in May? This means butchering jobs and services, something union members oppose.

Southampton's Tory council has implemented vicious cuts. The unions have fought back with overwhelming public support, but not from Labour, which opposed the strikes and backs cuts.

Strong criticism of the Labour cuts agenda exists among Unite and Unison members in Southampton, with one leading Unite steward telling Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (Tusc) campaigners: "You can't trust any of them!" We agree and so do many.

These cuts are not necessary, nor inevitable. Support exists for the fight against all cuts as was shown on November 30 2011.

This is how the cuts will be defeated - through national strike action linked to a political alternative to the Con-Dem and Labour cuts consensus.

Tusc is committed to defeating cuts and will stand alongside any Labour council or individual councillor who refuse to implement cuts. It is urgent the unions break the link with Labour, stand trade union candidates against cuts and form a new workers' party that can put socialist ideas back on the map.

Liverpool city council showed what is possible in the 1980s. Our task is to build that in Southampton, Britain and internationally.

Nick Chaffey
Southampton