TUSC

Stop the Cuts in Jobs and ServicesStop Bankers and MPs’ Bonus Rip Off’sFor a Fighting Councillor on a workers wage

I am standing again for election for three main reasons:



Save Our NHS: I was elected in 2006 after a huge campaign to stop Maternity and otherhospital services moving from Huddersfield to Calderdale, and against the closure of St.Luke’s hospital. The fight goes on as St. Luke’s closure looms nearer. Despite promisesabout keeping in-patient psychiatric services in Huddersfield, these are also being movedto Halifax. Community health services are being outsourced and GP budgets will be cut inthe next year. Privatisation and cuts remain an ever present danger and we must step upthe campaign again. I remain committed to defending a publicly, democratically run NHS—fully accountable to the public.



The gap between rich and poor has never been greater, made worse by the presentrecession. Bankers have bankrupt this country and ordinary people are being asked topay. I will not support any measures that penalise ordinary working people. I am demanding a massive investment in public services to help redress the poverty gap in thisBorough.



The public are fed up with MP’s and councillors feathering their own nests. I am the onlycouncillor not to take any expenses and I refused to take a free car parking permit. I willcontinue to genuinely represent ordinary peoples’ interests by donating my councillor ex-penses to local and national genuine causes.



I am committed to continue the work I have done over the last 3 years. I am being joined by twoother independent candidates in Golcar and Meltham. Please give me your support again

Formerly elected as ‘Save Our NHS’ Councillor in2006, serving Crosland Moor and Netherton Ward

Demo picture

Standing on My Record:



The public service cuts being proposed by this council (£400million) and central government (£76 billion) are the mostsevere in living memory. You elected me in 2006 to defendthe NHS and I want to continue that work , but extending toall public services.

I was the only councillor to opposecuts proposed by all the parties at the council’s budgetmeeting

, and you deserve to have a fighting councillor tocontinue this stand.



Stop Post Office Closures:

Last year I campaigned along-side Post Office users and owners, to keep local Officesopen. I took motions to the demanding they take over therunning of the offices in Kirklees and organised a number of protests and lobbies highlighting the issue.



Victory for the ‘No to Landfill’ campaign:

A successfullocal campaign group stopped Johnson’s Quarry being usedto dump household waste last year. Myself and others per-suaded the council to allow Johnson’s to continue to landfillwith inert waste only.



Workers striking to defend pensions, jobs, services andconditions:

I have consistently given support and solidarityto various groups of workers taking action in the past 4years, from Home carers to postal workers, council workersto university lecturers.



Allowances and Donations:

I have used all my councillorsallowances to date to help fund the above and other cam-paigns and donated to health organisations. I have claimedno additional expenses during my 4 years in office.



Over the past 4 years I have dealt with many and varied in-dividual cases on behalf of residents in the ward. These canrange from help resolving problems with street lighting or waste collections to benefits advice, housing and child pro-tection issues. I hold regular surgeries in 3 different parts of the ward and can be contacted outside of these by phoneon 07814223177 or email jackie.grunsell@kirklees.gov.uk

Supporting Campaign Against School ClosuresDemo AgainstPost OfficeClosuresSpeaking to TV at Council LobbyNHS Demo at St Georges SquareCivil Servants Picket Line

Kirklees Council in Chaos

The council has only just begun cutting services, but alreadythings have got much worse!



Over 800 workers have left through early retirement,leaving huge gaps in services.



Hundreds of council workers have lost pay through theso-called single status deal.



The education reforms have seen 7 schools closed sofar, and they want to bring in 2 privately run academies inBatley and Fartown.



It has just been revealed that 8 council managers takehome over £1 million, whilst they have paid a privateconsultancy firm (Deloittes) £35,000 to advise where tomake the cuts.



Too many council top brass are leaving with hugepayouts, only to return as paid consultants



This council has become a laughing stock with voters,wasting money on the St Georges Square fiasco whilstclaiming to be skint!Jackie will continue to put public services first by fighting for decent jobs, fair pay, and top quality services for those whoneed them most.

Second NHS DemoLobbying against Council Cuts

Below is an extract of a recent interview with Jackie setting out why she is standing again

Question

: “So Jackie, why have you decided to stand again?”

Jackie:

“In 2006. I was elected on a wave of anger at the proposed removal of health services toHalifax. I was given a huge vote of confidence and have tried to continue that work. The presentscale of public service cuts has alarmed me. The council wants to cut up to£400 million, losing 2,000 jobs. We cannot afford such a drastic reduction of services. I am fighting to defend local jobs and services”

Question: “

What has been your experience as a councillor?”

Jackie:

“I have been shocked by the petty bickering on the council which doesnot reflect the real concerns of ordinary people. I have been criticised byother councillors for not taking my expenses, but I have tried to stay loyal tothose people who elected me to fight for decent public services-not look aftermyself!”

Question:

“Aren’t you wasting your time, being a lone voice on the council?”

Jackie:

“Sometimes it has felt like that, but I firmly believe that peo-ple deserve better representation. I have now joined the Trade Un-ion and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) and there are many more likeminded people like me standing all over the country and in Kirklees.”

Question:

“What are your priorities this time round?”

Jackie:

“Obviously defending public services, especially the NHS.When I was elected I carried on this work and am still campaigningto protect services being transferred from St Luke’s. I also set up a cam-paign to defend our local post offices and helped spearhead the localgroup which successfully stopped the quarry landfill proposals. I will con-tinue to run local drop in surgeries every month, and keep everyone up-dated with my regular newsletters delivered to every house in the ward.”

Question:

“What difference can you make if re-elected?”

Jackie:

“I have used my influence and resources to help local campaignersfight off the closure of our Nursery at Tiddlywinks, as well as donate myexpenses to a large number of similar campaigns. It’s not surprising thatpeople are hugely disillusioned with politicians and many are tempted tostop voting. I hope I can still give people hope that there is a genuine al-ternative.”

Question:

“ So what is TUSC?”

Jackie:

“ It is a coalition set up by trade unionists and socialists, like my-self in the Socialist Party, who believe that New Labour has deserted itsroots. It is supported by thousands of ordinary people and will bestanding candidates across the UK. It will be putting up a challenge toall the main parties and their cuts agenda.

Question:

“Are people wasting their vote by supporting you again?”

Jackie:

“All the main parties on the council have supported the cutspackage in one form or other. I was the only councillor to speak out andvote against! My voting record has been consistent. The choice is be-tween returning to the same old parties or supporting me to continuemywork.”

Lobbying No 10Fourth Demo against NHS CutsSpeaking to UNISON StrikersDemo in Support of TiddlywinksSupporting Unique (homecarers) Care StrikersTiddlywinks Victory!Postal Workers’ Picket Line last yearFirst NHS Demo