The ‘Solidarity with the Strikes’ march, rally and fundraiser took place on Saturday 7 January in Manchester, the latest in a long history of political protest that won us rights and helped to shape our modern democracy.
January Strike Dates
As one year ends, another begins. But the struggles of 2022 haven’t gone away, and January 2023 continues to see industrial action affecting Greater Manchester. Here’s a rundown of this month’s strikes and ballots, and the reasons that workers are going on strike.
The railway strikes are about more than money for workers and passengers
The Meteor visited striking rail workers at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station on Friday 16 December to find out why the employees are so determined to win their struggle.
“We are going to make 2023 a fightback year. We need to change the conversation.”
Wednesday 30 November saw local leaders gather at Friends Meeting House for the sixth annual meeting of The People’s Powerhouse. Those in attendance included Andy Burnham, Nazir Afzal, Bev Craig, Steve Rotherham, Tracy Brabin and Oliver Coppard. The Meteor went along to hear what they had to say.
Second day of UCU strike action heralds beginning of new ‘Winter of discontent’
The University and College Union (UCU), the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), UNISON and the National Union of Students (NUS) joined forces for a march on Friday 25 November, travelling along Oxford Road to hear impassioned speeches in Manchester’s St Peter’s Square. The Meteor joined the rally to talk to those involved.
“I can’t cash in claps” – Nurses vote to strike for the first time in history
The Meteor talks to a recently qualified NHS nurse about what life is like on Manchester’s hospital wards and how things have got so bad.
Manston refugee scandal is just the tip of the iceberg, with North West asylum accommodation dilapidated and overcrowded
Sunday 6 November saw a crowd gather in Manchester’s St Peter’s Square, calling for the shutting down of the Manston immigration centre in Kent and to demand better treatment of asylum seekers nationwide.
Ways Forward 2022: Can we co-operate our way to climate justice?
The Ways Forward Conference 2022 in Manchester offered workshop discussions, panel sessions and plenaries around the role of co-ops in the current global climate crisis, including local action from energy to development.
UCU members vote for strike action in ‘historic’ ballot
University and College Union (UCU) members voted overwhelmingly for strike action last month, to increase pay and improve conditions (81.1%) and reverse cuts to pensions (84.9%) in ‘historic’ ballot. If the dispute remains unresolved, up to 70,000 workers across 150 universities will strike over three days at the end of November.
“I’m so happy and proud of the support we have had from Manchester”
These are Iranian-born Niloo’s words, at the demonstration for Iranian women’s freedoms, outside the
Central Library, on Saturday 22 October in Manchester. The protest was the eighth such gathering in the city in the 36 days that have passed since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22 year old woman in Iran.