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Pictures of Cambridge TUC Pensions March and Rally

IMC'er | 19.02.2005 14:53 | Social Struggles | Cambridge | London

Yesterday (February 18th, 2005) several hundred UNISON members, assembled in Cambridge Market Square to defend their pension rights.

Following The Piper.
Following The Piper.

Filming The Piper.
Filming The Piper.

And the prize for...
And the prize for...

...the world's quickest march around town goes to...
...the world's quickest march around town goes to...

...the Cambridge TUC pensions march, where, in some places...
...the Cambridge TUC pensions march, where, in some places...

...you had to run to keep up (esp. if you were taking photos)!!
...you had to run to keep up (esp. if you were taking photos)!!

As ever, it was all under the watchful eye of CCTV. Love 'em.
As ever, it was all under the watchful eye of CCTV. Love 'em.

Later, people listened attentively...
Later, people listened attentively...

...to several speakers extolling the (common sense) virtues...
...to several speakers extolling the (common sense) virtues...

...of having a decent pension plan to look forward to.
...of having a decent pension plan to look forward to.


At the head of the march was a lone bagpipe player, then later on, a lone drummer, playing along to chants, once said drummer managed to catch up.
It turns out the Piper was also a firefighter, who's colleagues were also in attendance, followed in (very!) quick succesion by other UNISON members. All of them there to defend their right to a decent pension and retirement plan, something which the current administration seems intent on attempting to not only cut back on, but possibly privatise, should they have it all their way, which, judging by the turnout today is very unlikely.

Thatcher may have had a good crack at union busting during the 1980s, but, they still hold enough power to fight their corner for workers' rights. Something which we should all applaud them for.

If there was such a thing in the Guinness book of Records as an entry for "The World's Shortest March" this one would surely come in the top ranking for qualifying, as it was all over within half an hour (I had to run to keep up for photographs), due to the leaders of it all doing an
extremely brisk stroll around the block!!
I know it's your lunch break, guys, but, hey, CHILL!

This aside, there were several speakers back at the Market Square, one of them commenting on the hypocrisy of spending so much money on the Iraq war, and not enough on public services (so what's new?).

All tolled, a very good natured march - polite but firm seems to sum it up.

And it didn't rain, for a change.


N.B.
This story was posted yesterday, but, due to clunky IMC servers had to be reposted.

IMC'er

Comments

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unions

19.02.2005 17:16

the conservatism of the labour movement has got in the way of social progress. it's largely a problem of nationalism.

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