Monday 21st May @ 7.30pm
The Plough
Deansway
Worcester

The Plough, Deansway, Worcester

Protest against NHS Reform Bill outside Worcester Guildhall

The British Medical Association said just last week that the reforms would be ‘irreversibly damaging to the NHS’ and emphasised the ‘widespread opposition across the NHS workforce’.

The government has refused to abandon the bill in spite of the overwhelming levels of public and professional discontent. It is therefore essential to increase the pressure yet further as the terrifying prospect of a virtual privatisation of the NHS edges ever closer.

In the context of such evidence and anger, is it possible to conclude that the government is doing anything other than pursuing the policy for the exclusive benefit of its own members and Tory funders? The bill would entail the privatisation (i.e. the end) of the NHS. Privatisation is about making profits out of existing services for private shareholders, not making sure that people get the best care possible.

The Plough, Deansway, Worcester

At the last WATC planning meeting it was agreed that a local demonstration would help to advertise the rally in London on 7th March as well as highlight the risk that the government’s Health & Social Care bill poses to the NHS.

We have only a few days to prepare for the demo outside The Guildhall. Please get in touch to let us know if you can be there and if you have any ideas as to how we can make it a memorable spectacle. Also, please spread the word!

We would be grateful if you could also let us know if you intend to go to the rally on 7^th March and if you would be happy for us to pass on your details to the local press.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley was greeted with shouts of “shame” yesterday as he headed for a meeting inside No 10:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqKwkqdkzP0

It would be great to see you on: Monday 23rd January @ 7.15pm

The Plough, Deansway, Worcester

The action, organised by Worcester Trades Union Council, was part of the national campaign against government plans to force through changes to public sector pension funds.

Worcester Trades Council Secretary Bryn Griffiths said:

“This is a reflection of the real anger felt by workers that, not only are they suffering because of pay cuts and redundancies, but their fair pension arrangements are being eroded for no good reason.  The government have gone about the changes in a high-handed manner, which suggests it was only ever a money saving exercise.”

A public meeting last week (Thursday 24th November) in Worcester heard from West Mercia NAPO* Branch Chair Tania Bassett that the pension changes were likely to have a worse effect on women workers as they have disproportionately more part time jobs.

A number of key official spoke at the rally on the theme of “Pensions Justice for All”: Ian Lawrence, Assistant General Secretary of NAPO; Max Hyde, national delegate for the National Union of Teachers;  Charlie Sarrell, Unison Regional Officer;  and Kevin Greenway from PCS.  The speakers and the hundreds of people at the rally agreed that Wednesday’s action should be seen as only the start of a long campaign to get the government to back down from their plans and to enter into meaningful negotiation with the unions.

Facts about pensions:

• It is only four years since public sector pensions were significantly renegotiated with the previous government in a deal that the National Audit Office reported in December 2010 was “on course to deliver savings and stabilise pension costs”, and will save £67 billion for taxpayers.
• UK pensioner poverty is among the worst in Europe, with France spending over twice as much on pensions and Germany two-thirds more.

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/A9E3B89C-7496-4EAE-B8CE8E90DAC62E13

MARCH starts at 11.15am from Mealcheapen Street

RALLY starts at 12.30pm at Tramps Nightclub in Angel Place

Please spread the word.

The Workers – “Let’s Work Together”

The Workers come from across the country and right across Britain’s diverse public sector. Their jobs are different, but they share a love of music, and have joined up to record “Let’s Work Together” in solidarity with everyone involved in November 30th’s Day of Action for Pensions Justice. You can buy the single here:

http://www.theworkers.org.uk/

St. Andrew’s Methodist Church
Pump Street
Worcester
WR1 2QT

Event organised by Worcester Trades Council

Saturday November 12^th – Weaver’s Wharf, Kidderminster, 10am – 2pm

Friday 18^th November – Evesham Town Centre, 10am – 2pm

Saturday 19^th November – Kingfisher Centre, Redditch, 10am – 2pm

Saturday 26^th November – High Street, Bromsgrove, 9.30am – 1pm

Thursday 1^st December – Crowngate, Worcester, 2 – 6pm

The closing date for replies to the Local Economy Survey is Friday 18^th November, 2011. To answer the questions online visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/nov11survey