Protest rally in Shrewsbury against public sector cuts
Monday 31st January 2011, 6:00PM GMT.
A rally is to be staged in Shrewsbury in protest at cuts to public sector services and jobs.
The demonstration will take place on February 19 and is being organised by the Shropshire and Telford Trades Union Council and members of the web-based Shropshire Fights Back campaign group.
A march will start from the Shirehall at 11.30am, with the rally assembling in the Square from 12.15pm.
Organisers say the rally will be entertaining, with music and a carnival atmosphere.
Speakers will include Peter Murray, president of the National Union of Journalists; Roger MacKenzie, regional secretary of Unison and Roger Bannister, Unison national executive member.
The Shrewsbury event is one of a series being held around the country, leading up to a major demonstration in London on March 26.
Brett Davis, chairman of Shropshire and Telford Trades Union Council, said: “The real impact of the Government’s cuts are only gradually becoming fully clear.
“We will be drawing attention to the effects they will have on local communities and local people.
“We hope people will turn out to support the day. By the end of it they will be better informed and probably angrier, at what is being done to their services.”
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All said and done it has to be done so thay can be as angry as they like . Chances are most of them at demonstration put them in power.
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“web-based Shropshire Fights Back campaign group”
so, a load of armchair communists then… they wont turn up.
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dang! just when I thought the Egyptian people had taken call-me-Dave’s Big Society literally and taken a lead for us.
Turns out he meant ‘Big Society’ means we pay more for less.
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These union hypocrites really are a joke, their labour puppets destroy the country and the economy and now they blame everyone else. These leftwing bullies were part of the problem and union fatcats such as mckenzie should perhaps take a pay cut insted of preaching at everyone else.
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Would these protesters rather see the UK go down the same path as Greece and Ireland?
Labour almost bankrupted the country and the unfortunate job of sorting out the mess is in the hands of the Coalition. No one wants these harsh measures but no one offers an alternative.
It effects me as much as anyone but the path proposed is the only viable option
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Is being shepherded from A to B by stewards in high-visibility jackets while carrying an SWP mass-produced placard really going to change anything?
The marchers would have more success nailing jelly to the nearest wall.
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I think what angers most public service workers is that the cuts are being carried out with such a scattergun approach. Their appears to be little or no thought going into the effects on cuts in certain areas. The BBC are reporting that 500 debt advisors are about to be made redundant despite a rapidly increasing workload. All this whilst sustainability and equalities officers hold on to their jobs.
What is happening at Shropshire Council goes beyond financial cuts. It is a concerted attempt to destroy much valued terms and conditions not just in the short term but forever. Indeed Shropshire Council has instigated cuts without following employment law on consultation.
Despite the propoganda of many of the right wing press, public sector workers do not get a better deal than the private sector. There are no bonuses, company cars, health plans, etc in the public sector. Yes, the private sector got hit during the credit crunch but they were doing really well during the boom. Public sector workers during the good years were still receiving pay awards lower than inflation.
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what rot!
Good old winky put loads of civil servants on bonuses and gave out 10 years of inflation busting pay rises, so go shovel it elsewhere!
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the working class didn’t cause this crisis so why are we paying for it?
Deep spending cuts damage public services, hit the vulnerable and threaten recovery.They’re dangerous, unfair and unnecessary.
The TUC’s demand for an alternative, that’s fair, safe and sustainable:
- Raising £40 billion a year by closing the UK annual “tax gap”, by closing tax loopholes, clamping down on tax avoidance, and investing in better enforcement.
- Raising £20 billion a year by a “Robin Hood” tax on currency speculators.
- Taxing bankers’ greedy bonuses to the hilt.
policies that all but some merchant bankers should agree with, hardly the revolution yet.
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