Monday 14 September 2015

Anti-cuts campaigners support migrants escaping war and poverty

Southwark Action Alert       8th September 2015

The huge support being offered by ordinary people to the Syrian refugees in the past week is being replicated by many public service providers and NGOs. Given that the inadequate provision of services is the consequence of government policies of austerity and privatisation, this Saturday’s potentially huge demonstration in support of refugees has attracted many campaigners calling for more funding for housing and service provision. Come along and join us!

People from Southwark will be travelling to Manchester on 4th October to demonstrate outside the Tory Conference. (See below) Can your trade union branch/campaign give formal support to the advertising of this TUC event? Or help with costs of hiring transport and selling tickets? Reply to this email to let us know. The facebook event for the coach is here.

Please tweet this listing, link to our website or post on your own Facebook page. Thank you.

EVENTS LIST

Wednesday 9 September

9am -11am. Southwark Day of Action in support of the National Gallery all-out strike against privatisation. Campaigners and trade unionists in Southwark please come to the picket line or send a message of support initially to southwarksos@gmail.com to be taken on the day. For updates visit the strike Facebook page here.

Friday, 11 September

11am. Leafleting on the Aylesbury Estate for the Housing Rights, Human Rights Film night (see 19 Sept. below). Meet Thurlow Lodge, TRA, Corner of Thurlow Street and Albany Road. Organised by Southwark Defend Council Housing campaign.

aturday 12 September

12noon. Demonstration - Refugees welcome here! Housing campaigners and those against cuts to public services will be marching together at this demonstration in solidarity with refugees. Called by a wide range of refugee support groups, anti-cuts groups and others. Details here. Assemble Marble Arch/Park Lane 12noon. Southwark campaigners and friends meet 11.45am at Elephant & Castle (outside the Metropolitan Tabernacle, opp. the shopping centre).

Sunday 13 September

Rally and lobby of the TUC Congress in Brighton, calling on the TUC and the unions to organise a midweek demonstration on the day that the Tories bring their Trade Union Bill to Parliament and to prepare for mass co-ordinated strike action if it is passed. (Venue: Charlotte Room in the Grand Hotel 97-99 King’s Rd BN1 2FW, next to the Brighton conference Centre). Email info@shopstewards.net if you want to attend and need transport. More info at http://shopstewards.net/activate/events/

Tuesday 15 September

7pm. Public meeting - What Next for the Fight Against Austerity? How can the public mood around the migrant crisis and the response to Corbyn's leadership campaign translate into the death of the austerity agenda? Venue: New Cross Learning, 283 - 285 New Cross Road SE14 6AS. With Lindsey German (People's Assembly, Stop the War, Counterfire) Organised by South East London People's Assembly.

Wednesday 16 September

9am -11am. Southwark Day of Action in support of the National Gallery all-out strike against privatisation. Campaigners and trade unionists in Southwark: please come to the picket line or send a message of support initially to southwarksos@gmail.com to be taken on the day. For updates visit the strike Facebook page here.

Wednesday 16 September

10am–6pm. Fast Food Rights National Organising Day for fast food workers, union activists and community campaigners to find out more about the Fast Food Rights campaign. Organised by the Baker’s Union. Venue: TUC, Great Russell Street, London.

Saturday 19th September

7.30pm Housing Rights, Human Rights Film night, includes a film by Simon Hanna about the fight against social cleansing and the destruction of council housing in Southwark, and seven days in the Barcelona anti-eviction movement that has inspired people everywhere to fight for their homes. Venue: Tiendas Del Sur, 91–95, Newington Butts, Elephant & Castle SE1 6SF. Event  supported by: South London People's Assembly Against Austerity, London Mexico Solidarity, Southwark Defend Council Housing.

Tuesday 29 September

7pm. Defend Council Housing meeting at the Alvey Estate Tenants Hall, ground floor of Thomson House, Beckway Street, off East Street, SE17 1TS. Beckway Street is close to the end of East Street at its junction with the Old Kent Road. Map here. More information from southwarkdch@gmail.com

ADVANCE NOTICE

Sunday 4 October

7am. Coaches depart Southwark to the TUC’s national demonstration at the Tory Party Conference, Manchester. Initial details here. If you want to go, contact secretary@southlondonpa.org to find out about times and tickets. Can your trade union branch/campaign support and advertise this event, or send a donation to help with cost of coach hire? Reply to this email or write to secretary@southlondonpa.org

3-8th October

A week of protests and action at the Tory party conference. Organised by the People’s Assembly and other supporting organisations. See here for details.

OTHER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS not listed above:

Campaign to Save the Aylesbury. Campaigners are supporting local tenants to oppose the demolition of council housing in Southwark. Replacing social housing with private dwellings is denying thousands of people decent, affordable housing.  A petition demanding that the Council respects the result of their ballot in 2001, or gives them another vote to decide what happens to their homes is being circulated. If you can help going door to door to seek signatures, contact southwarkdch@gmail.com or phone 07792 786 192. Website: www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch. Facebook page: click here.

Defend Lewisham Southwark College campaign The governors have voted to sell-off the Camberwell campus and a separate proposal by Southwark Council, published last month, is to take over the parts of the buildings that formed Southwark College before it merged with Lewisham in 2012.The Camberwell site is used by about 300 students - who mostly do ESOL classes and basic numeracy and some Job Centre plus courses. Contact savelscollege@gmail.com for more info or to join the mailing list. Campaign Facebook page here. You can download the latest proposal from Southwark Council here.

Keep Our NHS Public meet monthly (except in August) in the upstairs room at the Phoenix pub, 348 Clapham Road, SW9 9AR (between Clapham North and Stockwell tube stations). There is no Southwark KONP group so Southwark activists please make contact with this Lambeth group to find out about local activity. The group have a new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LambethKONP .

London Play and Youth Work Campaign is supported by Unite the Union. If you're a playworker, a child, a mum, a dad, a cousin, a youth worker, or you’re just concerned about cuts to youth services, please join. Find out more here or contact londonplaycampaign@gmail.com

information and to get involved, contact Nick on: 020 7467 1283 or 07530 001653, or email nickplus007@gmail.com. Facebook page here.

Save Lewisham Hospital

There is an indication that Lewisham Hospital may be under threat again. a petition online has been launched. For more information, click here. For the petition, click here.

SolidariTEA, a weekly drop-in between 2pm and 4pm for those affected by work capability, benefits & housing problems etc. Mutual support & planning direct action, at 97 Dawes House, Orb St, Walworth, London, SE17 1RD. For information, email to solidariteasouthwark@gmail.com or phone 07966180429 on Mondays pm. See the Facebook page here.

South London People’s Assembly organising meetings are held monthly at Bread & Roses pub, 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ. More information from secretary@southlondonpa.org. SLPA facebook here.

South London Unite the Resistance. For news updates and action alerts on trade union and anti-austerity events in south London, join the email list by writing to southlondonunitetheresistance@gmail.com or phone 07956579466.

Southwark Trades Council meets on the second Wednesday each month at 160 Tooley Street. The Trades Council or local TUC group is a forum for local unions to meet and organise together. ALL Southwark trade union members are welcome. Contact 07983475050 or southwarktuc@gmail.com for more information.

 Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts can be contacted at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB or by emailing southwarkdpac@mail.com