On March 29, For Bolshevism-AUCP took part in a demonstration with Libyan people protesting against NATO bombardment of Libya. It was held outside Lancaster House during the Libay Conference.
Up to 200 Libyans gathered outside a conference called by foreign secretary William Hague in London yesterday to pledge their allegiance to Colonel Muammar Gadaffi as Western nations demanded he leaves power.
Across the road from the Libyan demonstration against the conference on strategies for the country if Colonel Muammar Gadaffi is forced from power, Stop the War Coalition and CND also staged a protest demanding an end to the intervention led by France with Britain, the US and an array of other European nations.
We note that the imperialist leftist "stop the war coalition" quckly distanced itself from the Pro-Gadaffi part of the protest on account of the organisers spotting "something written on one of the banners that suggests they support Gaddafii". They quickly moved away to the other side of the road and largely out of view. Meanwhile the revolutionary left supporters including For Bolshevism-AUCPB remained with the Libyan people at the protest and in support of Gaddaffi.
Throughout the afternoon, pro-NATO Libyan oppositionists constantly tried stoking up tension at the demo by attacking the pro-Gadaffi protest by and sending in their provocatoers and trying to start fights.
click on title to view photos
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Monday 28 March 2011
MARCH 26 TUC MARCH CENTRAL LONDON
Over half a million people march in London against cuts.
On 26 March 2011, up to half a million people took to the streets of London in an anti-government protest against the vicious austerity measures being implemented by the Tory government that force working people to pay for the financial crisis of capitalism.
During the day, the main TUC anti-cuts march over 500 thousand people took part in the march that ended up in a rally at Hyde Park.
For Bolshevism-AUCPB group also took part along with other communist and leftist parties and organizations in selling For Bolshevism journals at the rally in Hyde Park and carrying out ideological, explanatory work among the working people. The For Bolshevism group began by selling copies of the English language journal of the AUCPB, “For Bolshevism Inside The Communist And Workers’ Movement” as the march was assembling on Embankment, then as the march was underway, merged with a more militant feeder march which had joined with the main column of demonstrators on the TUC march. Several militant anti-capitalist feeder marches from different points of London also marched and converged with the main TUC march. For Bolshevism-AUCPB and the anti-capitalist blocs all merged into a larger column, broke away from the TUC march route, then headed into the central shopping area of West London, targeting banks, and other businesses, clashing with riots police. After successfully breaking through police lines and avoiding being kettled by police, property damage was inflicted on the intended targets.
Well planned actions by militant workers, meant that Central London was effectively shut down all day by militant protestors as they clashed with riot police, breaking through police lines, then targeting banks and shops in Oxford street, Piccadilly and many other areas, where they had their windows smashed and paint bombs thrown at the front of the buildings. The Ritz Hotel and other posh hotels were attacked, fires started, and even Fortnums, the queens’s beloved and very expensive grocery store and many other shops were occupied by protestors. With this large, militant, flexible and mobile march moving swiftly around the city centre inflicting damage to capitalist exploiter property as a symbol of the people’s hatred towards capitalism, the 4500 riot police who were deployed to control the outburst of militant anger, were unable to contain the march. Trafalgar Sq was occupied too, where clashes broke out between protestors and riot police on the square and surrounding streets until early hours of Sunday morning..
May the struggle continue
For Bolshevism-AUCPB
LINKS AT TOP OF PAGE FOR REPORTS AND PHOTOS,
SOURCE: INDYMEDIA LONDON
READ TIMELINE March 26th, The Story Told by Those on the Streets
On 26 March 2011, up to half a million people took to the streets of London in an anti-government protest against the vicious austerity measures being implemented by the Tory government that force working people to pay for the financial crisis of capitalism.
During the day, the main TUC anti-cuts march over 500 thousand people took part in the march that ended up in a rally at Hyde Park.
For Bolshevism-AUCPB group also took part along with other communist and leftist parties and organizations in selling For Bolshevism journals at the rally in Hyde Park and carrying out ideological, explanatory work among the working people. The For Bolshevism group began by selling copies of the English language journal of the AUCPB, “For Bolshevism Inside The Communist And Workers’ Movement” as the march was assembling on Embankment, then as the march was underway, merged with a more militant feeder march which had joined with the main column of demonstrators on the TUC march. Several militant anti-capitalist feeder marches from different points of London also marched and converged with the main TUC march. For Bolshevism-AUCPB and the anti-capitalist blocs all merged into a larger column, broke away from the TUC march route, then headed into the central shopping area of West London, targeting banks, and other businesses, clashing with riots police. After successfully breaking through police lines and avoiding being kettled by police, property damage was inflicted on the intended targets.
Well planned actions by militant workers, meant that Central London was effectively shut down all day by militant protestors as they clashed with riot police, breaking through police lines, then targeting banks and shops in Oxford street, Piccadilly and many other areas, where they had their windows smashed and paint bombs thrown at the front of the buildings. The Ritz Hotel and other posh hotels were attacked, fires started, and even Fortnums, the queens’s beloved and very expensive grocery store and many other shops were occupied by protestors. With this large, militant, flexible and mobile march moving swiftly around the city centre inflicting damage to capitalist exploiter property as a symbol of the people’s hatred towards capitalism, the 4500 riot police who were deployed to control the outburst of militant anger, were unable to contain the march. Trafalgar Sq was occupied too, where clashes broke out between protestors and riot police on the square and surrounding streets until early hours of Sunday morning..
May the struggle continue
For Bolshevism-AUCPB
LINKS AT TOP OF PAGE FOR REPORTS AND PHOTOS,
SOURCE: INDYMEDIA LONDON
READ TIMELINE March 26th, The Story Told by Those on the Streets
Tuesday 22 March 2011
FB-AUCPB-CLASS STRUGGLE UK
22 March – Glasgow – Scotland
Glasgow university occupation by students violently evicted by police.
A 49 day long occupation of the Hetherington Building at Glasgow University has today been violently evicted by cops. In response, occupiers, students and supporters have occupied the Senate Floor of Glasgow University.
Source: UK Indymedia
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/03/476411.html
ALSO
Today staff at the University of Bristol from the University College Union (UCU) were on strike over the proposed changes to the USS pension fund scheme. The proposals are currently to provide a two tier scheme, where existing members will continue with their final salary pension plans, but new members (or anyone who takes a substantial career break to start a family or because of illness) will be placed on a career average plan.
The USS pension fund is, and continues to be in good health, and UCU have proposed that any future stresses to the fund can more than be met by increasing contributions. Professor Brian Cantor, chair of the Employers' Pension Forum, has rejected UCU's request to continue talks, saying: 'we are not persuaded that it is appropriate to re-open formal negotiations, even with the involvement of Acas'.
Striking members of staff were joined on piket lines by numerous students carrying placards stating 'I support my lecturers.' A poll of Bristol University students conducted by the University of Bristol Union overwhelmingly found that students support the industrial action.
source Bristol Indymedia
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/703826
=========================================
18 March - Wales – Lecturers out on strike
UCU members took strike action across Wales, as part of a dispute across Britain against attacks on pensions
=================================================
15 March – Southampton
Medirest workers in Unison trade union in Southhampton General Hospital are taking a second round of further strike action over three days. The low paid porters, cleaners, catering staff and domestic staff are striking over the firm’s refusal to pay wage arrears since 2006. They are also striking over conditions of training. They have vowed to keep striking until their demands are met.
=============================================
Glasgow university occupation by students violently evicted by police.
A 49 day long occupation of the Hetherington Building at Glasgow University has today been violently evicted by cops. In response, occupiers, students and supporters have occupied the Senate Floor of Glasgow University.
Source: UK Indymedia
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/03/476411.html
ALSO
Today staff at the University of Bristol from the University College Union (UCU) were on strike over the proposed changes to the USS pension fund scheme. The proposals are currently to provide a two tier scheme, where existing members will continue with their final salary pension plans, but new members (or anyone who takes a substantial career break to start a family or because of illness) will be placed on a career average plan.
The USS pension fund is, and continues to be in good health, and UCU have proposed that any future stresses to the fund can more than be met by increasing contributions. Professor Brian Cantor, chair of the Employers' Pension Forum, has rejected UCU's request to continue talks, saying: 'we are not persuaded that it is appropriate to re-open formal negotiations, even with the involvement of Acas'.
Striking members of staff were joined on piket lines by numerous students carrying placards stating 'I support my lecturers.' A poll of Bristol University students conducted by the University of Bristol Union overwhelmingly found that students support the industrial action.
source Bristol Indymedia
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/703826
=========================================
18 March - Wales – Lecturers out on strike
UCU members took strike action across Wales, as part of a dispute across Britain against attacks on pensions
=================================================
15 March – Southampton
Medirest workers in Unison trade union in Southhampton General Hospital are taking a second round of further strike action over three days. The low paid porters, cleaners, catering staff and domestic staff are striking over the firm’s refusal to pay wage arrears since 2006. They are also striking over conditions of training. They have vowed to keep striking until their demands are met.
=============================================
Friday 18 March 2011
FB AUCPB-CLASS STRUGGLE UK march 15 on
17 March Glasgow –Scotland
Glasgow University – strike action by lecturers and students
Lecturers supported by students took strike action at Glasgow university over savage government cuts being pushed through the higher education sector. This is all gaining support for a one day strike across Britain and the British occupied north of Ireland to take place on 24 March.
At the same time, students at Edinburgh University occupied the human resources building in solidarity with the lecturers on strike at 8 Scottish universities, over attacks on their pensions. A march of 200 students also took place lunchtime in support of the strikers.
FBU
15 March- London
Fire brigade bosses in London are threatening to cut overtime payments, claiming the Fire Service can manage with less.
FBU website
15 March
Lancashire - Garstang High School
Teachers unions are planning to ballot for strike action over against a proposal to turn it into an academy.
Also three school students were excluded temporarily last week at John Port School, in Etwall, Derbyshire after they walked out with striking teachers who were striking over plans to turn the school into an academy. Governors backed plans to turn it in to an academy and it is set to become one on 1 April. Unions are threatening further strikes.
NASUWT
Glasgow University – strike action by lecturers and students
Lecturers supported by students took strike action at Glasgow university over savage government cuts being pushed through the higher education sector. This is all gaining support for a one day strike across Britain and the British occupied north of Ireland to take place on 24 March.
At the same time, students at Edinburgh University occupied the human resources building in solidarity with the lecturers on strike at 8 Scottish universities, over attacks on their pensions. A march of 200 students also took place lunchtime in support of the strikers.
FBU
15 March- London
Fire brigade bosses in London are threatening to cut overtime payments, claiming the Fire Service can manage with less.
FBU website
15 March
Lancashire - Garstang High School
Teachers unions are planning to ballot for strike action over against a proposal to turn it into an academy.
Also three school students were excluded temporarily last week at John Port School, in Etwall, Derbyshire after they walked out with striking teachers who were striking over plans to turn the school into an academy. Governors backed plans to turn it in to an academy and it is set to become one on 1 April. Unions are threatening further strikes.
NASUWT
Tuesday 15 March 2011
UK Workers struggle
5,000 protest in Sheffield as Lib Dems cower behind fence
Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, protected by 1,000 police and a huge metal fence, was the focus of many people's anger.
5,000 people marched on the Lib Dem conference in Shelfield on Saturday to ‘Rage against the Lib Dems’.
Rage at the Liberal liars sparked what was the biggest demonstration in the city for many years, organised by the Right to Work campaign and Sheffield Against the Cuts.
Trade unionists joined the protest in groups, including blocs of council workers, teachers, nurses and railway workers. Students and pensioners came out in force too.
The march was organised by Right to Work and Sheffield Against the Cuts. The CWU mobilised. Friends of the Earth and the local Save Our Sure Start campaign were there. There were lots of families and lots of home made placards. The banging of drums filled the air.
==========================================
Angry march through east London for NHS Day X
Angry health workers and students took to the streets of the City of
London yesterday last Wednesday in a protest against cuts and Tory threats to privatise the NHS.
Student nurses and medics, many dressed in blue or white scrubs, joined the 1000-strong march outside the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London.
Together with doctors, nurses, and an array of therapists, they took to the streets chanting, “public health, not private wealth”, and, in a reference to Tory plans going through parliament, “kill, kill, kill the bill, it will make you very ill.”
The protest was organised by a recently-formed network of health workers and students, in all unions and none. Many had spent the week leafleting their lecturers, putting posters in surgeries and putting up stalls outside hospitals.
==================
London marks women's day
Sunday 13 March 2011
by Louise Nousratpour
Leading communist women gathered in London this weekend to celebrate International Women's Day as an important day for the working class to assess the achievents of the past year and prepare for challenges ahead.
An international panel of women representing several countries' Communist Parties brought greetings to a packed meeting at Marx Memorial Library.
Their tales of struggle against gender-specific discrimination and violence were remarkable similar and their enemies the same - imperialism and neoliberal policies.
But a positive tone was struck by new Cuban ambassador Esther Armenteros, who told the audience that she was proof that gender and race equality could be achieved in a socialist system.
"I was born into a very poor black family living in a society where discrimination was rife and opportunities scarce," she explained.
"I was 12 when the revolution swept Cuba and it changed everything. Suddenly all possibilities were open to people like me. Today, there is equal pay and equal rights in our country. In some areas we have excelled compared to men to a point that the government has had to put quotas in in favour of men."
Ms Armenteros condemned the decades-long US economic blockade on Cuba, adding: "Can you imagine how much better women's situations could have been?"
Chairing the event Communist Party of Britain women's organiser Liz Payne highlighted the significant achievements women have made in capitalist countries.
But she dismissed claims by sections of the bourgeoisie that women should now hang up their marching boots.
"Recent reports from the UN and Unicef show that women's lives everywhere are still alarmingly bleak - they suffer violence and face economic and social discrimination," Ms Payne said.
Representatives from Sudan, Iraq and Iran all condemned their country's Islamic laws restricting women's rights.
Azar Sepehr of the Democratic Organisation of Iranian Women said: "Discrimination against women is enshrined in law in Iran."
Iraqi Women's League speaker Nora Mohammed Ali warned that the puppet regime in her country had pushed women's rights back decades by introducing regressive marriage and other anti-women laws.
"Girls as young as seven are forced to wear the hijab, though the government denies this is happening," Ms Mohammed Ali said.
Amal Gabrala of Communist Party of Sudan called for the women's struggle to be linked to the wider working class struggle: "Let us remember Rosa Luxemburg and the likes of her, whose memory and work continue to inspire us."
Representatives from the Bangladeshi and Indian communist parties also took part.
Lib Dem leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, protected by 1,000 police and a huge metal fence, was the focus of many people's anger.
5,000 people marched on the Lib Dem conference in Shelfield on Saturday to ‘Rage against the Lib Dems’.
Rage at the Liberal liars sparked what was the biggest demonstration in the city for many years, organised by the Right to Work campaign and Sheffield Against the Cuts.
Trade unionists joined the protest in groups, including blocs of council workers, teachers, nurses and railway workers. Students and pensioners came out in force too.
The march was organised by Right to Work and Sheffield Against the Cuts. The CWU mobilised. Friends of the Earth and the local Save Our Sure Start campaign were there. There were lots of families and lots of home made placards. The banging of drums filled the air.
==========================================
Angry march through east London for NHS Day X
Angry health workers and students took to the streets of the City of
London yesterday last Wednesday in a protest against cuts and Tory threats to privatise the NHS.
Student nurses and medics, many dressed in blue or white scrubs, joined the 1000-strong march outside the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London.
Together with doctors, nurses, and an array of therapists, they took to the streets chanting, “public health, not private wealth”, and, in a reference to Tory plans going through parliament, “kill, kill, kill the bill, it will make you very ill.”
The protest was organised by a recently-formed network of health workers and students, in all unions and none. Many had spent the week leafleting their lecturers, putting posters in surgeries and putting up stalls outside hospitals.
==================
London marks women's day
Sunday 13 March 2011
by Louise Nousratpour
Leading communist women gathered in London this weekend to celebrate International Women's Day as an important day for the working class to assess the achievents of the past year and prepare for challenges ahead.
An international panel of women representing several countries' Communist Parties brought greetings to a packed meeting at Marx Memorial Library.
Their tales of struggle against gender-specific discrimination and violence were remarkable similar and their enemies the same - imperialism and neoliberal policies.
But a positive tone was struck by new Cuban ambassador Esther Armenteros, who told the audience that she was proof that gender and race equality could be achieved in a socialist system.
"I was born into a very poor black family living in a society where discrimination was rife and opportunities scarce," she explained.
"I was 12 when the revolution swept Cuba and it changed everything. Suddenly all possibilities were open to people like me. Today, there is equal pay and equal rights in our country. In some areas we have excelled compared to men to a point that the government has had to put quotas in in favour of men."
Ms Armenteros condemned the decades-long US economic blockade on Cuba, adding: "Can you imagine how much better women's situations could have been?"
Chairing the event Communist Party of Britain women's organiser Liz Payne highlighted the significant achievements women have made in capitalist countries.
But she dismissed claims by sections of the bourgeoisie that women should now hang up their marching boots.
"Recent reports from the UN and Unicef show that women's lives everywhere are still alarmingly bleak - they suffer violence and face economic and social discrimination," Ms Payne said.
Representatives from Sudan, Iraq and Iran all condemned their country's Islamic laws restricting women's rights.
Azar Sepehr of the Democratic Organisation of Iranian Women said: "Discrimination against women is enshrined in law in Iran."
Iraqi Women's League speaker Nora Mohammed Ali warned that the puppet regime in her country had pushed women's rights back decades by introducing regressive marriage and other anti-women laws.
"Girls as young as seven are forced to wear the hijab, though the government denies this is happening," Ms Mohammed Ali said.
Amal Gabrala of Communist Party of Sudan called for the women's struggle to be linked to the wider working class struggle: "Let us remember Rosa Luxemburg and the likes of her, whose memory and work continue to inspire us."
Representatives from the Bangladeshi and Indian communist parties also took part.
Friday 11 March 2011
UK WORKERS' MOVEMENT
UNIVERSITY LECTURERS TO STRIKE
University lecturers of the UCU union have voted for strike action over jobs, pay, pensions and Tory cuts. The first strikes are set to take place next thursday
======================
9 March - MANCHESTER
PROTESTORS STORM COUNCIL MEETING
On 9 March, Protestors stormed the Manchestor City council meeting as councillers voted and approved a budget that will cut 2000 jobs and make cuts to services amounting to £109 million. Over 80 angry protestors gathered in the public gallery and shouted chants of “liars”, “cowards”, and “no votes for cuts” at the Labour-run council as it pushed through austerity measures. The meeting was suspended twice before the councillers managed to get vicious anti- people’s the budget passed..
======================
MANCHESTER
Unite union members at Manchester council have recently voted by 80% for strike action over plans by the council to axe 2100 jobs
================
University lecturers of the UCU union have voted for strike action over jobs, pay, pensions and Tory cuts. The first strikes are set to take place next thursday
======================
9 March - MANCHESTER
PROTESTORS STORM COUNCIL MEETING
On 9 March, Protestors stormed the Manchestor City council meeting as councillers voted and approved a budget that will cut 2000 jobs and make cuts to services amounting to £109 million. Over 80 angry protestors gathered in the public gallery and shouted chants of “liars”, “cowards”, and “no votes for cuts” at the Labour-run council as it pushed through austerity measures. The meeting was suspended twice before the councillers managed to get vicious anti- people’s the budget passed..
======================
MANCHESTER
Unite union members at Manchester council have recently voted by 80% for strike action over plans by the council to axe 2100 jobs
================
Thursday 3 March 2011
FB-AUCPB CLASS STRUGGLE UK 3 MARCH
Health workers battle for NHS
Health workers in London have called a “Day X for the NHS” in response to growing NHS job losses and cuts.
They have been inspired by the student “Day X” protests that rocked the government over fees last year.
Student and staff nurses will join doctors, occupational therapists, dieticians, admin workers and radiographers on the day, Wednesday 9 March.
They will march from the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel to Bart’s in the City.
=========================
Southampton council pay offer thrown out
The Unison and Unite unions have voted by 80 percent to reject pay cuts at Southampton council.
Unison has 2,300 members at the council and Unite 750.
The unions are now calling on the council to drop its plans or face “the most serious industrial action the city has ever seen”.
Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said, “Imposing the pay cuts will cost the council tens of thousands of pounds.
“Council workers have spoken. The turnout in the ballot is higher than in the local elections which put the Conservatives in control of the city.”
=================================================
Town halls occupied as councillors vote for cuts
Anti-cuts protesters have been occupying town halls up and down Britain as councillors vote through slasher budgets.
Up to 300 people occupied Lambeth town hall in London on Wednesday of last week.
The protesters rushed into the council meeting chanting, “That’s not what democracy looks like—this is what democracy looks like.”
The campaigners, including many council workers, then held a “people’s council” in the chamber.
They took over the meeting, elected their own chair and discussed opposition to the cuts for around two hours.
Andrew Smith, a parent, said, “The council’s got to listen to us. What’s the price of our children’s future?
“We’ll keep coming back and we won’t give up.”
Their protest is part of a growing wave of resistance.
More than 100 council workers stormed into Rhondda-Cynon-Taf council chamber the same day in protest at the Labour-led council’s cuts budget.
They chanted “Shame on you” and “Don’t do the Tories’ dirty work”.
Every worker at the council is being threatened with the sack if they don’t accept worse conditions—and the council plans to sack one in ten of them anyway.
The mayor halted the meeting and threatened to have the police evict everyone from the gallery. Plaid Cymru council members briefly left the meeting in protest.
text
bold = The anti-cuts movement marches on
“Clegg, Cameron, hear us say—make the greedy bankers pay!” That message echoed through Birmingham’s streets last Saturday as over 1,500 trade unionists, students and people from community groups marched against the cuts.
Birmingham Unison union joint branch secretary Graeme Horn said, “This is a great turn out and will give heart to activists campaigning for a yes vote in the forthcoming strike ballot of workers in Birmingham City Council.”
Some 300 demonstrators joined a Unison march through Stockport, Manchester, to the town hall on Thursday of last week.
Trade unionists rallied in Canterbury on Saturday and marched trough the city demanding an end to cuts and rejection of the Tory NHS bill.
There were also protests in Southwark, York, Reading, Weston-super-Mare and Bournemouth.
The workers’ rage was clear to see. One worker accused the council leader of “being like Mubarak—denying us a voice whilst you shit all over us.”
Over 200 protesters charged into a Leeds council meeting on Wednesday, shouting, “They say cut back, we say fight back.”
The council suspended the meeting. Although the budget was eventually passed, the protest set down a marker of militant resistance.
Tory leader Andrew Carter said, “We have had some sizeable demonstrations—over pit closures and the Iraq war—but never has a meeting of council been disrupted in such a way.”
text
In Hull the next day some 1,000 people besieged the Guildhall with a massive sound system. They disrupted and delayed the council meeting for nearly an hour.
And hundreds of protesters marched into Haringey civic centre.
The councillors went and tried to meet in a canteen—but the protesters got in there too.
In Bolton over 200 anti-cuts activists lobbied the council. Some draped a banner from the balcony saying “Cuts no way—make the bankers pay!”
And in York six activists jumped on a table as the meeting started, chanting, “No ifs, no buts, no public service cuts.”
Where there have been occupations, councillors have run off to vote through the cuts behind closed doors.
But that won’t be the end of the story.
If we can occupy the town halls, then when they come to shut down our libraries, our nurseries, our day centres and our care homes, we can occupy them too.
Thanks to Ben Rutherford, Phil Sanderson and Adam Collins
===========================================
01 MARCH – TRAIN DRIVERS OUT ON STRIKE
Arriva train drivers went out on strike on Monday, over pay and conditions. Hundreds of train services were cancelled. They also refused to work overtime on Sunday. Further strikes are planned if their demands are not met. They are angered by being paid less than train drivers of other parts of the Britain. However the union has called off a further day of strike action later this month after the company threatened the union with a court injunction.
Also. Cleaners in the RMT went out on strike at First Great Western train depots in Cardiff and Swansea on Friday last week over pensions, payment of wages and lack of communication.
=================================================
25 FEBRUARY – LONDON
A solidarity demo was held outside the US embassy in London in solidarity with the people of Iraq during their day of rage against unemployment, poverty, corruption and US occupation. Last week there were several other demos in London and other cities across Britain in solidarity with Arab people rising up against unemployment, poverty, corruption and oppression across North Africa and Middle East.
Haringey council chambers occupied
Several hundred people protested outside the budget meeting at wood green civic centre tonight. the building was occupied, and more than twenty people managed to break through a small police line and enter the council chamber, where they delayed the council meeting by nearly two hours. two were arrested after 3 van loads of TSG officers were called in to clear the building. A solidarity vigil was quickly organised outside hornsey police station where they were taken.
===========================================
Health workers in London have called a “Day X for the NHS” in response to growing NHS job losses and cuts.
They have been inspired by the student “Day X” protests that rocked the government over fees last year.
Student and staff nurses will join doctors, occupational therapists, dieticians, admin workers and radiographers on the day, Wednesday 9 March.
They will march from the Royal London hospital in Whitechapel to Bart’s in the City.
=========================
Southampton council pay offer thrown out
The Unison and Unite unions have voted by 80 percent to reject pay cuts at Southampton council.
Unison has 2,300 members at the council and Unite 750.
The unions are now calling on the council to drop its plans or face “the most serious industrial action the city has ever seen”.
Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said, “Imposing the pay cuts will cost the council tens of thousands of pounds.
“Council workers have spoken. The turnout in the ballot is higher than in the local elections which put the Conservatives in control of the city.”
=================================================
Town halls occupied as councillors vote for cuts
Anti-cuts protesters have been occupying town halls up and down Britain as councillors vote through slasher budgets.
Up to 300 people occupied Lambeth town hall in London on Wednesday of last week.
The protesters rushed into the council meeting chanting, “That’s not what democracy looks like—this is what democracy looks like.”
The campaigners, including many council workers, then held a “people’s council” in the chamber.
They took over the meeting, elected their own chair and discussed opposition to the cuts for around two hours.
Andrew Smith, a parent, said, “The council’s got to listen to us. What’s the price of our children’s future?
“We’ll keep coming back and we won’t give up.”
Their protest is part of a growing wave of resistance.
More than 100 council workers stormed into Rhondda-Cynon-Taf council chamber the same day in protest at the Labour-led council’s cuts budget.
They chanted “Shame on you” and “Don’t do the Tories’ dirty work”.
Every worker at the council is being threatened with the sack if they don’t accept worse conditions—and the council plans to sack one in ten of them anyway.
The mayor halted the meeting and threatened to have the police evict everyone from the gallery. Plaid Cymru council members briefly left the meeting in protest.
text
bold = The anti-cuts movement marches on
“Clegg, Cameron, hear us say—make the greedy bankers pay!” That message echoed through Birmingham’s streets last Saturday as over 1,500 trade unionists, students and people from community groups marched against the cuts.
Birmingham Unison union joint branch secretary Graeme Horn said, “This is a great turn out and will give heart to activists campaigning for a yes vote in the forthcoming strike ballot of workers in Birmingham City Council.”
Some 300 demonstrators joined a Unison march through Stockport, Manchester, to the town hall on Thursday of last week.
Trade unionists rallied in Canterbury on Saturday and marched trough the city demanding an end to cuts and rejection of the Tory NHS bill.
There were also protests in Southwark, York, Reading, Weston-super-Mare and Bournemouth.
The workers’ rage was clear to see. One worker accused the council leader of “being like Mubarak—denying us a voice whilst you shit all over us.”
Over 200 protesters charged into a Leeds council meeting on Wednesday, shouting, “They say cut back, we say fight back.”
The council suspended the meeting. Although the budget was eventually passed, the protest set down a marker of militant resistance.
Tory leader Andrew Carter said, “We have had some sizeable demonstrations—over pit closures and the Iraq war—but never has a meeting of council been disrupted in such a way.”
text
In Hull the next day some 1,000 people besieged the Guildhall with a massive sound system. They disrupted and delayed the council meeting for nearly an hour.
And hundreds of protesters marched into Haringey civic centre.
The councillors went and tried to meet in a canteen—but the protesters got in there too.
In Bolton over 200 anti-cuts activists lobbied the council. Some draped a banner from the balcony saying “Cuts no way—make the bankers pay!”
And in York six activists jumped on a table as the meeting started, chanting, “No ifs, no buts, no public service cuts.”
Where there have been occupations, councillors have run off to vote through the cuts behind closed doors.
But that won’t be the end of the story.
If we can occupy the town halls, then when they come to shut down our libraries, our nurseries, our day centres and our care homes, we can occupy them too.
Thanks to Ben Rutherford, Phil Sanderson and Adam Collins
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01 MARCH – TRAIN DRIVERS OUT ON STRIKE
Arriva train drivers went out on strike on Monday, over pay and conditions. Hundreds of train services were cancelled. They also refused to work overtime on Sunday. Further strikes are planned if their demands are not met. They are angered by being paid less than train drivers of other parts of the Britain. However the union has called off a further day of strike action later this month after the company threatened the union with a court injunction.
Also. Cleaners in the RMT went out on strike at First Great Western train depots in Cardiff and Swansea on Friday last week over pensions, payment of wages and lack of communication.
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25 FEBRUARY – LONDON
A solidarity demo was held outside the US embassy in London in solidarity with the people of Iraq during their day of rage against unemployment, poverty, corruption and US occupation. Last week there were several other demos in London and other cities across Britain in solidarity with Arab people rising up against unemployment, poverty, corruption and oppression across North Africa and Middle East.
Haringey council chambers occupied
Several hundred people protested outside the budget meeting at wood green civic centre tonight. the building was occupied, and more than twenty people managed to break through a small police line and enter the council chamber, where they delayed the council meeting by nearly two hours. two were arrested after 3 van loads of TSG officers were called in to clear the building. A solidarity vigil was quickly organised outside hornsey police station where they were taken.
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