UK UK Newswire Archive
Budget protest at County Hall
17-11-2013 20:55
On Wednesday 13th November, Notts County Unison held a protest at County Hall against the cuts being proposed at Nottinghamshire County Council.
On Wednesday 13th November, Notts County Unison held a protest at County Hall against the cuts being proposed at Nottinghamshire County Council.
The council reverted to Labour control in May, but this has made little difference to the austerity programme in the county which continues apace.
The protest was held to coincide with the council's policy committee which was considering the budget proposals announced the previous week. These foresee £154 million of cuts over the coming three years with around £37.3 million in the first year (2014/15).758 staff are currently "at risk" with more likely to go.
Despite planning the event to coincide, policy committee had actually already agreed the report before the protest begun, having dealt with the various discussions in around one and a half hours. That's about one minute for every £1.7million.
Around 90 people turned up to the protest, with workers from around the county, as well as community members, local activists and other trade unionists. This isn't an amazing turnout, but it is worth bearing in mind that Unison has been holding protests like this since November 2009 and it is not surprising that people feel powerless in the face of these attacks.
It is possible that the union's attempt to walk the line between a strong anti-cuts position and fully legal "responsibility" resulted in a not entirely inspiring position: calling for a one-year no cuts budget (using reserves etc.) to create breathing space in order to launch a united campaign against the ConDem government.
While an interesting attempt to spin the needs-based budget position, I'm not sure how far this will resonate with many people, particularly when the emphasis occasionally seemed to fall on the one-year budget, rather than the need to confront central government.
It was certainly noteable that the largest cheers of the day were reserved for the last speaker who was also the most radical, condemning councillors as self-serving or money-grabbing, and calling for people to refuse to pay their council tax.
What received less note was the large hole in the budget report. Even in the first year, the 37.7million cuts fall far short of the council's projected £62.9 million defecit. The rest will (presumably) have to be made up from a council tax rise (only likely to raise around £5 million) and by dipping into reserves. Self-evidently, once reserves have been used they will not be their in the future so it isn't unclear how long this strategy can be continued in order to "balance the books".
No doubt the Labour Group would insist that this budget was "realistic", but in reality all it does is kick the can down the road. It does nothing to address the real issue: centrally imposed austerity. If they want to do anything about that, it means picking a fight with central government and that puts councillors' comfortable positions at stake. So don't hold your breath.
Unison had (controversially) invited Labour Group leader Alan Rhodes to speak at the demonstration, supposedly to "explain his position", but Rhodes bottled it.
Conduit Search goes aggressive on your browsing
17-11-2013 20:07
Support for San Sebastian Bachajon
17-11-2013 14:45
The struggle of the compañerxs is of great relevance at a global level for the proposal for an autonomous struggle, based in their indigenous worldview ) and for the freedom of the indigenous peoples. National and international support is essential such as the letter campaign promoted by the by the UK Zapatista Solidarity Network.Stop The Killing Of Cyclists - Protest at TfL HQ on Friday 29 November
17-11-2013 11:24
List of events for Free School next week at 195 Mare Street!
16-11-2013 19:01
The week has been split as follows:
Mon 18th Resistance / Awareness
Tue 19th DIY / Cooking
Wed 20th Technology / Ecology
Thu 21st Housing / Benefits / Practical Squatting
Fri 22nd Queer and Feminist
Sat 23rd Arts / Music / Creative
Sun 24th Arts / Music / Creative
finally Australia takes on the U.S.A. Free Assange! Free Manning - Rugby League
16-11-2013 18:15
DONATE to the Pvt Manning Family Fund - and win a Rugby League World cup 2013 football signed by Julian Assange!
http://tinyurl.com/nz7sr3q *The above site & bank account set up to defray the costs of Pvt. Mannng's Wales based family in transatlantic prison visits to Ft.Leavenworth
http://tinyurl.com/yrw72v
[london] Renters Occupy Luxury Flat Development
16-11-2013 14:08
Rolling Jubilee & Strike Debt, DIY Space for London, Anarchist Solidarity Fund
16-11-2013 12:34
Check out episode 130 of Dissident Island Radio - broadcast from London, UK on 15 November 2013 - the show features:Group aims to serve up discarded food
15-11-2013 22:55
Sunday 8th December sees the official launch of Sharing Sherwood, a project that aims to use up food that would otherwise have been thrown away by Supermarkets.
Sharing Sherwood hopes to prepare delicious meals on the 2nd Sunday of every month for the local community to come and enjoy at The Sherwood Cookery Workshop on Mansfield Road. There is no set menu and there is no set price, with any donations being given towards projects such as Nottingham's food banks. The food to be used has been possible thanks to national charity FareShare, who collects and co-ordinates the food donated by supermarkets and shops. The event will start at 7pm, and people are encouraged to bring their own drinks. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how to reduce food waste and food bills in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, enjoying some delicious food.
African Women Empowerment Forum Conference
15-11-2013 22:55
The African Women Wempowerment Forum Conference will be held on Saturday 30th November 2013, from 15:30 to 22:00. The Venue is the Bridge Centre, 49a Gregory Boulevard, NG7 4BQ
Celebrating Womanhood and cultivating women's leadership!
Guests of honour will include the Lord Mayor, Merlita Bryan and Counsellor Stephen Ndungu.
Speakers will include Muzvare Betty Makoni of the Girl Child Network, Faith Gakanje AWEF's CEO and Director, and Maria Ward of Nottingham's Council for Voluntary services.
For more details, please see the flyer attached.
Labour Councils and the Cuts
15-11-2013 22:55
Most Labour councillors are in it for the money so it is hardly surprising that they have not opposed the cuts.
We are entering the fourth year of drastic cuts in spending by local councils. The basic cause is the Coalition Government’s austerity measures to pay back the money borrowed in 2008 to prop up failing banks. We are being forced to pay for the folly of the bankers.
LABOUR COUNCILLORS
Many local councils, such as Nottingham City Council and Notts. County Council, are controlled by the Labour Party. Yet not one council in the whole country has defied the Government by refusing to impose cuts on local services. Labour councils have been just as ruthless in slashing spending as have the ones controlled by Tories and Lib-Dems.. If only a handful of councils stood up for the people by refusing to make cuts then this would create a national political crisis which the Government could not ignore. But in the whole country only a few individual Labour councillors have voted against cuts budgets.
IN IT FOR THE MONEY
Years ago most people who served on local councils did so out of a sense of public duty. They genuinely wanted to improve their local communities. These councillors received very little in expenses and allowances and not much time off work for council duties. Being a local councillor was a demanding, time-consuming commitment.
Now it is very different. Councillors, especially those on county councils and unitary authorities, receive generous allowances and expenses. For example, in 2012/13 the basic allowance received by Nottingham City councillors was £11,582 while for Notts. County it was £12,906. On top of this many receive special responsibility allowances. The leaders of the City and the County received totals of £46,855 and £44,910 respectively. The cabinet members of Labour-controlled Derbyshire County Council have given themselves large pay rises.
Some county councillors are also on district councils which brings them extra income. Another source of more money is allowances for serving on various public bodies. Being a councillor can open up business opportunities, running consultancies, etc. while others are in paid employment.. Yet others already have retirement pensions so their council allowances are a nice supplement to their incomes
For many Labour councillors their political activities are in effect their jobs and the main source of their income. It is hardly surprising that they are not prepared to do anything—like resisting the cuts—which could threaten their positions as councillors. They want the money! These people will carry on cutting services and sacking council workers because they don’t want to loose their lucrative positions. They are our enemies, not our friends.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Petitions, meetings and demonstrations have not stopped the Labour cutters. It is time for direct action.
Don’t pay Council Tax. Already hundreds of thousands of people are withholding Council Tax payments. Just as we did with the Poll Tax, starve councils of money thus creating a political crisis.
Disrupt council proceedings. Go into their budget-cutting meetings and stop them voting in cuts. Also picket them at their homes. Make them feel unwanted.
KICK THEIR LABOUR ARSES!
ANTI-AUSTERITY ACTION
www.antiausterityaction.org.uk
Contact: antiausterity@talktalk.net
Jeremy Hammond's Sentencing Statement [15/11/13]
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To-day In Nottingham and beyond Radical Routes...TODAY!!!
15-11-2013 13:24
This weekend Radical Routes WeekendQueer Cinema Tomorrow- short film Boy Followed by Hard Candy
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Information about the Queer Cinema night tomorrow at 195 Mare street.AgainstGreece: 2 very possible 'pushbacks' in Greece
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#1 Evros, 12/11 wideley publised in greek news, 150 Syrians 'disappeared' in border vilage.#2 Chios island, Aegean, 13/11, boat with 50 Syrians 'overturns' in border waters off Oinousses island, Turkish guards of coast rescued them and arrested an alleged smuggler. Greek coastguard is reported as "watching from a distance with a ship of the Chios coastguard". No attempt was made by them to help people in the sea.
Methods of work of secret service
14-11-2013 19:12
Here are some examples how secret service work, it can be useful to those who don’t have experience with them. Of course, it has nothing with national security. In the West, they follow you on the basis of nationality, color of skin and religion. They make paranoia and create fears about immigrants in order to spread racism and justify repression (imprisoning and deportation) against immigrants.Extraordinary up-date on 'Pensioner Attacked' story
14-11-2013 09:56
Jenny Willott MP Cardiff Bedroom Tax Eviction
14-11-2013 04:22
ANTI-BEDROOM TAX PROTEST!Tell Jenny Willott MP 1. Resign 2. Axe the Bedroom Tax 3. Hands off our Homes.
Friday 22 November at 2 pm, 38 The Parade (off City Road), Roath, Cardiff
Final Stage in getting justice for child rape and unethical human medical trials
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Libya almost Imploding, Status Quo Unsustainable
13-11-2013 08:23
Libya is Europe’s single largest oil supplier. Cutting the Libyan oil and gas supplies to Europe on the eve of a winter that weather forecasts predict to be a very cold one would be an excellent pretext for inviting a European military intervention in the country, which seems the only option left for the transitional government of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan that ran out of options for its survival.