Motion 6
First North Lanarkshire, Then The World
“That this Congress notes that in Autumn 2023, North Lanarkshire council announced a range of cuts and closures of many of the county’s numerous community centres, sports halls, and other public buildings. This attack demonstrated a new shift in the political class’s attempts to place the bill of the current economic crisis, on the shoulders of the working-class; first they tried attacking our workplaces, now they are attacking our communities. Though the council cynically rescinded the cuts, the blade of this guillotine still hangs in the air. Now we must shift the campaign from just thinking within North Lanarkshire and push it across Scotland.
“The threat of cuts remains at all levels, from our local councils, Holyrood, and Westminster. The only way to fight this, is to work in coordination with our trades councils, our trade union branches, and STUC Congress with one clear message – cuts will bleed our communities dry.
“The STUC’s tax report, which was published in November 2023 proves there is money available to fund our services and our public spaces – cuts are purely a political choice to attack our class.
“Congress calls upon the General Council to commit to the following:
- work with the trades councils across Scotland to fight every cut to local services;
- lobby Councils to support reform Council Tax, in line with the STUC’s tax report;
- encourage local councils to pressure the Scottish Government to implement the taxation models proposed by the STUC’s tax report; and
- lobby local councils and the Scottish Government to deliver a Zero Cuts Budget – highlighting how the STUC’s tax report proves that cuts are purely a choice.”
Mover: North Lanarkshire Trades Union Council
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