ON FRIDAY August 12, Glasgow’s Power to the People launched its campaign against fuel poverty with a mass protest outside the headquarters of Scottish Power in the city centre.

Hundreds gathered to send a clear message to both politicians and the super rich in Britain: ordinary families will no longer pay for these endless crises of capitalism.

Power to the People have set out three clear demands: freeze prices not people, lose the late fees, and scrap prepayment meters.

Among those present at the demonstration were a spread of trade unions, such as the RMT, GMB, CWU, Unison and Unite Community, alongside student unions and tenants’ unions. This was a broad-based show of solidarity, with chants of “victory to the RMT” when Gordon Martin, RMT regional organiser, addressed the crowd.

The issue of low wages that do not keep up with inflation was a recurring theme for all speakers, with Labour councillor Matt Kerr echoing the concerns of trade unions taking industrial action this summer to improve pay and conditions for workers across the country.

Ellie Gomersall, president of the National Union of Students Scotland, set out the critical conditions that students are living in during this inflationary crisis, arguing that student finance comes nowhere close to covering the absolute basics. This illustrates the connected struggle of many students and the working class as rents, utility bills and food prices continue to soar.

A powerful message of unity was shared by Stella Rooney from the Dennistoun branch of tenants’ union Living Rent, who made the case that together we are stronger in the fightback against the greed of landlords, bosses and energy giants like Scottish Power.

The demonstration began across the street from Scottish Power’s looming skyscraper, but mid-way through the repertoire of speakers, protesters marched across the road to demonstrate directly at the front doors of the building with chants of “the people united will never be defeated.”

Caitlin Lee, speaking for Unite Hospitality, moved the crowd with a class-based analysis of power, underlining the fact that low wages and high living expenses are part of a political choice that we can fight back against, if we are united in our struggle. Lee spoke of the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on hospitality workers, who suffer some of the worst employment conditions of all British workers.

I spoke last on behalf of the Wyndford Residents Union, who are heading into negotiations with SSE over hikes in heating bills within the Wyndford estate in Maryhill, which is supplied by a communal heating system operated by the energy giant.

I also talked about the Young Communist League’s campaign to make the rich pay for this current crisis, instead of the working class, ending with a chant of “make the rich pay now.”

Amidst a summer of strikes, mass demonstrations, earth-scorching heat and a Tory leadership contest with two candidates who are completely out of touch with both the working class and the climate, the need for transformative change in our economy and society has never been clearer.

The Power to the People campaign represents the urgent need for a transference of power and wealth from the wealthy elite to the people of Britain who work to produce that wealth. This demand is spreading further as this crisis continues to deepen and it is clear that the working class will be on its knees no longer.