Opposing the cuts in Oxford
IMCer | 17.09.2010 18:16 | Education | Health | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Oxford
Opposition to the planned public sector spending cuts is growing across Oxfordshire and beyond.
In early September there was a sit-in protest in Lloyds Bank in central Oxford. Protesters pointed out that the banks are being funded by the public at the expense of our frontline services including heath care, social services, and housing.
A week later, Oxford Save Our Services held a public meeting to start mapping the cuts in Oxfordshire and to start building resistance to them. Around 50 people - including service users and public sector workers whose jobs could be under threat - all spoke about the cuts that were being made. These ranged from closing the GAP homeless project, stopping schools & parks projects, closing care centres, turning off speed cameras, and much more.
There was a passionate speech from Stuart (pictured) who had been to the Oxfordshire County Council 'Big Debate' meeting calling for solidarity amongst all those seeking to oppose the cuts.
Resistance to the cuts is in fairly early stages, but rapidly gathering momentum. Events coming up in the near future include:
23 September 7pm: Town Hall Oxford Trades Council open community meeting for all groups and unions against the cuts.
27 September: Oxford Save Our Services planning meeting. Update: Meeting details.
3 October: Demonstration at the Tory party conference. Coaches going from Oxford.
20 October (day of the Comprehensive Spending Review): National day of action against the cuts.
[ Bank sit-in report ] [ Save Our Services meeting: Report | Photos | Audio ]
[ Oxford Save Our Services | Oxford Right to Work | No Shock Doctrine ]
Stuart Speaking
IMCer
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It's Kicking Off!
29.10.2010 01:21
We hit the streets
SATURDAY 30/10 2PM, CORNMARKET
SPREAD THE WORD
Fuck Vince Cable.
This Saturday is a national day of action against Vodafone, who have merrily avoided over £6 billion in taxes. All of this while the Chancellor is telling us that his huge public spending cuts are "fair", and that "we're in this together"... right. This campaign is an explosive expansion on action already taken this Wednesday at Vodafone's flagship store in London. See the brilliant video
We're told that fighting the defecit is such a pressing issue, and so far we're doing very well highlighting the terrible impact of this spending slash. Saturday's action on Cornmarket offers us a brilliant opportunity to put forward an alternative: start with claiming the £12 billion a year owed to us by some of the world's richest companies before raiding public services.
There's no plan, but if there were one...
1. Head over to Vodafone's shop on Cornmarket for 2pm this Saturday
2. Browse for phones. Look normal.
3. On the signal, have a nice (and effective) sit-down.
With hundreds participating in similar actions across the country, we'll be making a stand against the government's self serving and unjust agenda. Vodafone ducked out of billions in tax, and the government helped them do it!
Read more about the national day of action and more detail on Vodafone's creative accounting on the UK Uncut Website (
We took to the streets in great number and pride on Thursday, and that was only the beginning; let's push this campaign to the next stage and prove that there are alternatives to the savage cuts we face.
Solidarity
Oxford Anti-Cuts