May 22nd

Vote What is the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition?

For more info, or to join ring /text 07809839793. Follow @SocialistIain on Twitter,

like ‘Leeds Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition’ on Facebook or visit tusc.org.uk Printed and Promoted by Iain Dalton on behalf of Leeds TUSC, both at

28 Harold Walk, Leeds, LS6 1PS

On

Public meeting - all welcome

A Socialist Alternative to

Cuts & Crisis

Thursday 24th April, 6.30pm

Dennison Hall WMC, Pinfold Lane,

Armley, LS12 3LL

www.tusc.org.uk / leedstusc@gmail.com

Iain Dalton, Armley

Iain Dalton is a member of the retail worker’s union, Usdaw and has

been active in campaigning against the bedroom tax in Armley as

well as campaigning for decent pay and against the use of zero hour

contracts. Iain is also the Yorkshire & Humber TUC Youth Convenor.

About our TUSC candidate for Armley

Axe the bedroom tax - cap rents not benefits

Scrap zero hour contracts—for real jobs with a

wage you can live off

Oppose all cuts to jobs and services

TUSC is a coalition of trade unionists, socialists, community campaigners and service

users who are fed up of the three main parties all agreeing with each other about

the need to cut our services, living standards, and pay. TUSC was founded only 4

years ago to give a fighting alternative to ordinary working people who want a voice

that speaks up for them.

Labour currently runs Leeds City Council at present. Since taking office they have

carried out £150 million worth of cuts to local jobs and services (in coalition with the

Greens for the first £90m). That’s 1,500 jobs gone and services closing such as

libraries, day centres, care homes. To cap it off they have started evicting people

victimised by the bedroom tax—a policy Labour are supposed to oppose!

The Tories and Lib-Dems are no better - they’re the ones in parliament cutting council

funding and privatising our NHS whilst giving millionaires and corporations tax

breaks. £120 billion goes uncollected in taxes every year from those fat-cats. UKIP are

just the same - in 2009 their leader Nigel Farage said he had claimed a whopping £2

million in expenses as an MEP!

Instead of doing the Tories dirty work, we say that Leeds City Council should use its

reserves to defend jobs and services and keep people in their homes. This would buy

time to build a massive campaign alongside council workers, services users, trade

unions and others to demand the funding that this government has stolen from our

city to be invested into jobs and services. Stop wasting your vote on the same old

parties and give TUSC your vote for a real alternative.

Cap rent not benefits Stop rip off landlords! A cap on rents in the private sector to bring private rents in line with social housing rents. Councils should have a compulsory register of private landlords - they should refuse to issue a license to landlords letting overcrowded, poor quality housing at rip-off rents. They could also set up a council-run, not-for-profit letting agency.

Rent Councils

The government’s definition of ‘affordable’ means nothing to most of us. The council could establish committees of housing workers, tenants and the local trade unions to set the rents.

Build Council Houses

Use the council’s reserves and borrowing powers to build and renovate enough decent quality social housing for all those who want it and campaign for the council to divert its private developer subsidy to support this. Leeds City Council currently only plan to build 388 new council houses using rip-off PFI funding.

Axe the bedroom tax

The bedroom tax is forcing the poorest and most vulnerable out of their homes. The council should immediately stop the implementation of the tax and associated eviction proceedings, as well as fully restore council tax benefit.

For a wage you can live off While the Con-Dems gloat of a recovery in the economy, many workers won’t be feeling it as wages continue to stagnate. Meanwhile, utility bills and other costs are soaring, with many people, even those in work, being forced to resort to using the ever-growing network of food banks across the country. Iain will campaign for the introduction of a living wage, including for all council workers and contractors. TUSC stands for a minimum wage for all workers set at half adult male earnings with no exceptions and will support trade unions campaigns and industrial action to improve pay and conditions

Scrap zero-hour contracts For many people when they find work, the only option is to take

insecure jobs that don’t provide a guarantee of enough hours of

work. Often, they may end up working a near full-time job in reality,

but employers use zero-hour contracts to avoid giving holiday pay,

sick pay and other entitlements.

Iain, a former zero-hour contract worker, has been at the forefront of

this campaign, organising protests in Leeds and supporting efforts

to unionise fast food and retail workers, some of the most exploited.

Housing

Crisis in

figures

292%

Increase in average

deposit for a first

time buyer from

2001 to 2011

Over

50% of renters are under

35.

7 years Average wait for a

council house

Over

27,000 On the council

house waiting list

in Leeds

Most new 3-bed

homes only have

77% of the

recommended

minimum space

Why we support Iain Dalton and TUSC

“Iain’s been a tremendous support to me personally and our community in our con-

tinuing battle against the bedroom tax.”

Carole O’Keefe, Armley Hands off our Homes (anti-bedroom tax campaign)

“Iain and TUSC oppose the failing capitalist system which is destroying our public

services. We need people like Iain as councillors to stand up for jobs and services.”

Trevor Howard, RMT (transport union) Regional President

Also supported by RMT Leeds City Branch, Socialist Party & Leeds North & East Left Unity