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From The Socialist newspaper, 8 August 2012
Workers win Wales Austerity Games despite bosses moving the goalposts!
Gareth Bromhall
Following the Youth Fight for Jobs Wales week of action, which received an excellent response in Llanelli, Pontypridd, Swansea - where one mother donated £20, Cardiff and Newport, the Austerity Games were held on Saturday 4 August.
After gathering in Cardiff city centre we marched with placards and chants that received claps and shouts of encouragement. We went through the main shopping street pointing out shops that are involved in slave labour workfare schemes.
We held a rally to a crowd of young people, students, and trade unionists in the shadow of Cardiff's Olympic rings. Speakers including Steffan Bateman, organiser for YFJ in Cardiff, myself as the newly elected student governor of Pembrokeshire College, representatives from Cardiff Trades Council, Wales Shop Stewards Network, PCS and national YFJ organiser Paul Callanan.
The games got underway with two teams competing. The capitalists had top hats, monocles and cigars. The workers were well organised and passionate.
Events included a spirited game of class tug of war, where the capitalists where outweighed and overthrown by the sheer size of the workers' team. The football ended in a 6-3 win to the workers despite the capitalists constantly moving the goal posts!
This finished a fantastic week for the organisation in Wales, in which we highlighted the issues facing young people: benefit cuts, EMA cuts, rising tuitions fees, transport costs and ultimately the capitalist system that needs to be replaced.
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In The Socialist 8 August 2012:
Socialist Party news and analysis
End the insane cycle of youth joblessness
March together on 20 October and then strike together to stop all cuts
Sean Rigg inquest: damning verdict for police
Gove sneaking unqualified teachers into academies
London Olympics
Views on the Olympics and the opening ceremony
Transport 'customer experience' staff still fighting for Olympics bonus
Socialist Party workplace news
Vote No in Unison's local government pension scheme ballot
Swansea DVLA staff protest at embarrassment of job cuts
Support Churchill cleaners, Tyne & Wear Metro
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Interview with Southampton rebel councillors
TUSC: Keeping up the pressure on the austerity parties
Socialist Students organise to fight fees and cuts
Workers win Wales Austerity Games despite bosses moving the goalposts!
Growing resistance to NHS cuts shown in Redditch
Portsmouth fans fight to save Fratton Park
Brighton pensioner jailed for non-payment of council tax
Welsh Labour: Red flag or white flag?
Obituary: Frank Mills, 1939 - 2012
International socialist news and analysis
Syria: Is there an alternative to the developing civil war?
Markets force savage austerity measures on Spanish workers
Trial resumes of Kazakhstan human rights activist
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