Protests on pensions, jobs, public housing, benefits and the health service

UNITE & UNISON Health members have now rejected the Pensions deal. On 10th May, members of the PCS, UNITE Health Section, and the UCU will all be striking across Southwark. Action is being organised for the day. Send messages of support, or get your union branch to ‘twin’ with a local workplace on strike. There is lots of practical or financial support that you could offer!  Email us for details of how to do this, or for contact details of workplaces where trade union members are taking action. Southwark Save Our Services <southwarksos@gmail.com>

Jobs, public housing, benefits and the health service are the focus of other protests this month. Please attend these events if you can, and forward the Events Diary below to your friends, work colleagues and to community networks.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

Thursday 3rd May

Cast your votes against cuts in the London Elections. Apart from the Mayor’s election, cast your votes for local candidates and parties. Pages 25-28 of the official booklet also gives details. Check their own websites for their policies.

Friday 4th May

5 pm onwards. Leafleting Kings College Hospital staff over 10th May pensions strike. At Denmark Hill Rail Station, SE5 8BB. Contact if you can help with leafleting, or just turn up!

Thursday 10th May

470,000 public sector workers strike to defend pensions. Local picket-lines, (with updated postings here ), a demonstration at midday assembling at St Thomas’s Hospital followed by a short march to a rally in Central Hall Westminster. Summaries of UNITE, PCS and UCU strike statements http://righttowork.org.uk/2012/04/may-10th-the-next-step-in-the-fight-to-save-our-pensions/.

Thursday 10th May

From 9.30 am. Southwark Pensioners Parliament which will be held in The Attlee Suite, Portcullis House. Opportunities to discuss the projected cuts to services at the Maudsley.  Southwark Members of Parliaments and Councillors are all invited, as are members of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SL&M) who will be given the opportunity to justify the planned closure of a ward for elderly people.

Saturday 12th May

Join the start of the Caravan For Climate Jobs. Central London. Time & exact venue to be announced. Backed by several national trade unions. Organised by the Campaign for Climate Change. Times and other details http://www.climate-change-jobs.org/node/20.

Saturday 19th May

3pm-5pm. Rents Up and Housing Benefits Down! Public meeting. Organised by DCH, and supported by STUC. The Peckham Settlement, Goldsmith Rd, SE15 5TF (off Peckham Hill St, at the Peckham Library end). Leaflets available fairymill@gmail.com <fairymill@gmail.com> .

Tuesday 22nd May

7pm. Meeting of London Keep Our NHS Public at Camden Town Hall, Judd St, WC1.

Wednesday 23rd May

7 pm. Southwark SOS Organising meeting. LSBU London Road Building. Contact for agenda and room details. Southwark Save Our Services <southwarksos@gmail.com>

Wed 23rd May

9.15am onwards.  Join a Housing Emergency protest: Cut Rents not Benefits - No evictions due to benefit cuts. Outside Commonwealth Club, 25 Northumberland Avenue WC2N 5AP. Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HousingEmergency.

 Friday 25th May

7pm Public Meeting to coincide with the arrival of the Caravan For Climate Jobs. Friends Meeting House, St. Martin's Lane, off Trafalgar Square. Speakers include Tony Kearns (Sen. Dep. Gen Sec of CWU), Jean Lambert, (Green Party), Murad Qureshi (Chair, GLA environmental committee), Professor Barbara Harris-White (Million Climate Jobs Report), Suzanne Jeffrey (Chair, CaCC TU group), Sachi Lloyd (author), Graham Pietersan (UCU), Greenpeace. Campaign news here.

Saturday 26th May

Organise or join in alternative street parties! Join UK Uncut’s Great British Street Party to demand that we keep our public services, our rights and our welfare system. Background http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/uk-uncuts-great-british-street-party. If you want to hold a street party or find out about local events, contact UK Uncut ukuncut@gmail.com <ukuncut@gmail.com>.

Advance notice

9 June

11am-4pm. NSSN 6th Annual National Conference: Confirmed speakers - Bob Crow RMT General Secretary, Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary, Kevin Courtney NUT Deputy General Secretary, Rank & File Unite construction electrician. Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London.

13 June

7 p. Public meeting on the fight against austerity. Organised by Southwark TUC. Venue at Elephant & Castle. Speakers will include Jeremy Corbyn MP. For more details contact STUC.

23 June

National NHS Supporters Conference. Friends House, Euston Rd, NW1, organised by Keep Our NHS Public and NHS Support Federation. A chance for all organisations to discuss the way forward. Times & other details to follow.

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