Edinburgh activists keep pressure on council

Over 70 anti-privatisation campaigners met in Edinburgh on Tuesday of last week.

They were in a celebratory mood, after plans by the SNP‑Lib Dem council to privatise environmental services were put on hold after a prolonged campaign.

The council is set to vote on the privatisation on 24 November, although the SNP claims it will vote against. There will be a lobby outside the council meeting.

There is now a debate over whether to allow any job cuts at the council, even if an in-house option is taken.

Duncan Smith, the chair of Edinburgh City Unison, told Socialist Worker the campaign had led to a “rebirth of the left” in the city. “It’s bringing together trade union activists and local campaigners,” he said. “New people are getting involved all the time.”