Southwark Action Alert Wednesday 14 August 2013

Planning meetings during the next three weeks will be discussing how to mobilise the largest possible numbers for protests and demonstrations over cuts to health, disability and welfare benefits, fire stations and more. Please come along to help organise and spread the word about these protests.

Don’t forget to tweet this listing (link to our website ), post on your Facebook page, or help us with leafleting for these events. Thank you.

EVENTS LIST

Thursday 15 August

8pm. A short film about the 1986 Victoria Nurses Federation strike in Australia & a talk with David Esterson, former NHS nurse and activist in the 1988 NHS strikes. Doors open at 7pm. Venue: The Side Room, The Sun of Camberwell, Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9QW. Supported by King’s Unite branch. Open to clinical and non-clinical hospital workers. Enquiries/contact: healthworkersocial@hotmail.com

Tuesday 20 August

7pm. South London People's Assembly planning meeting at The Bread and Roses, 68 Clapham Manor Street, SW4 6DZ. All welcome. See more on Facebook.

Friday 30  August

Times tbc. Local Protests as part of week of action to protest against austerity, organised by Disabled People Against the Cuts. See below and  http://dpac.uk.net/ for other events in the week of action.

Saturday 31 August

1pm. March for jobs and Justice. Assemble Kennington Park. March to 10 Downing Street. Organised by BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against Cuts). More details at the BARAC website , on Facebook or write to barac.info@gmail.com

Monday 2nd September

Times and venue tbc. Day of Direct Action as part of week of action to protest against austerity, organised by Disabled People Against the Cuts. See http://dpac.uk.net/

Monday 2 September

6pm.  South London Unite the Resistance Organising meeting. Agenda includes plans for solidarity action with teachers’ strikes, CWU action, and other disputes, demonstration at Tory conference. Effra Hill Tavern, Kellett Road, Brixton, SW2. For more information and an agenda, phone 07956579466. For information about the national UtR organisation go to http://uniteresist.org/

Wednesday 4 September

Freedom Drive: March and rally at Parliament organised by. Four themed 'blocks' will meet at four Government departments, central to the lives of disabled people, then move to Parliament for a rally. Following the march there will be a lobby (TBC) of Parliament. This is the last event in a week of action to protest against austerity. See http://dpac.uk.net/

Saturday 7 September

11.30am – 5.30pm. Leafleting for the 29 September National NHS demonstration, at the Stockwell Festival in their 'community action zone' at Larkhall Park, Courland Grove, Stockwell, SW8 2PX.  Stall organised by Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public.

Sunday 8 September

12.30pm. Lobby of TUC conference in Bournemouth: Name the date for a 24 hour general strike! ‘All out together in November!’ Hardy Suite, Hermitage Hotel, Exeter Road, Bournemouth (opposite Bournemouth International Centre, TUC Congress venue). Lobby called by NSSN. For transport details, email info@shopstewards.net

Saturday 14 September

11am to 12.30pm. Rally for Education. Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster SW1P 3EE. Speakers include: Christine Blower (General Secretary, NUT), Patrick Roach (Deputy General Secretary, NASUWT). Teachers, parents, support staff and governors all invited.

Thursday 19 September

7pm. Organising meeting of Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public campaign in the Duke of Cambridge pub, 74 Lansdowne Way, Stockwell. SW8 2DQ. (nb. No meeting in August.)

Thursday 26 September

10.30am – 12.30pm. Meeting on ‘The Council’s Budget Challenge’. Speaker: Ambrose Omoma (Southwark Council) at InSpire, St Peter’s Crypt, Liverpool Grove SE17 5HH. Organised by Southwark Pensioners Forum. More information from mail@southwarkpensioners.org.uk or phone 020 7708 4556.

Sunday 29 September

All Day. Save Our NHS – national demonstration outside the Tory Party conference, Manchester. Supported by UNITE, GMB, UNISON and other organisations. Ask your campaign group/trade union branch to support this protest. Southwark Trade Union Council is coordinating local transport arrangements. Coaches leave locations in Southwark 7am and 7.30am. For trains chartered by UNITE the Union and People’s Assembly see their websites. More information from southwarktuc@gmail.com. Here's a video saying why you should go: http://youtu.be/hEPuiIDg4Tc

Advance notice

Week beginning 14 October

Date tbc. London teaching unions NUT & NASUWT will be on strike for one day. More info at http://www.teachers.org.uk/node/18841

Saturday 19 October

12 noon – 5pm. ‘Organising to Win’ conference Workshops for those new to organising in the workplace and their communities as well as those who have experience in the trade unions and campaigns.  Bloomsbury Baptist Church, 235 Shaftsbury Avenue, WC2H 8EP. Organised by Unite the Resistance. Book your place here. More information at  http://uniteresist.org/

Saturday 2 November

Times tbc. Lambeth People’s Assembly, Lambeth Town Hall. More details at http://lambethsaveourservices.org/

Tuesday 5 November

Day of civil disobedience called by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity. More details to be announced. See http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/

OTHER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS:

Crown Post Offices closures/franchising – Peckham & East Dulwich

Background information and petition sheet from the Communication Workers Union here.

Fire stations closures

Southwark campaign information and their action plans are to be found at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/southwark

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Southwark Pensioners Action Group

Meets bi-monthly. Campaign information at http://www.spag.btck.co.uk/

Southwark Action Alert 2nd July 2013

Local organisations will be supporting the lobby of Southwark Council on 10th July, calling on councillors to oppose the Bedroom Tax and commit to not evicting tenants because of benefit cuts. Can you come along, and bring others with you? (See below).

In addition protests against wage-cuts, cuts to disability support, education and health are listed below.

Please help to spread the word by tweeting, or posting this listing on your Facebook page, or help us with leafleting for these events.

EVENTS LIST

Thursday 4 July 9am. Get Cameron - David Cameron will be visiting the Turner Centre Margate CT9 1HG. Thanet Benefit Justice is calling on anti-cuts groups, trade unions, students, disabled campaigners and others to bring whistles and banners and flags. Fb event www.facebook.com/events/412975298816453/

Thursday 4 July 8am onwards. Strike called by Lambeth College UCU against compulsory redundancies. Please visit picket lines at one of these sites: Brixton Centre: 56 Brixton Hill SW2 1QS , Clapham Centre: 45 Clapham Common Southside SW4 9BL , Vauxhall Centre: Belmore St, Wandsworth Rd., SW8 2JY. Send messages of support to Branch secretary at mbrown@lambeth.ac.uk

Thursday 4 July 1 pm. Q&A with Simon Hughes, the LibDem MP for Bermondsey, who will be at Southwark Resource Centre (10 Bradenham Close, London SE17 2QB) to hear views and questions from users and staff.  His party has given the Tory government the green light to go ahead with its vicious attacks on disabled, poor and vulnerable people. He has got a lot to answer for! Contact southwarkdpac@mail.com if you can come, and receive info for people to use in planning their questions. Come early to avoid disappointment!

Thursday 4th July 6.30pm. Joint meeting to plan Peoples’ Assembly in Lambeth, called by Lambeth Trades Council and Lambeth SOS at Vida Walsh Centre, off Windrush Square in Brixton. This meeting is open to campaigners from other boroughs including Southwark. Southwark SOS will be represented.  Facebook: http://on.fb.me/14FHQUy

Friday 5th July 4pm. Start of the CAMarathon: London to Witney, to mark the 65th birthday of the NHS and highlight the role of David Cameron and the Conservative party in abolishing the NHS. Assemble at Dept of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, SW1A 2NS. An ‘NHS coffin’ will be carried by 6 pallbearers, first to Parliament before being carried overnight to David Cameron's Witney constituency and delivered there on Saturday.  Details at http://www.keepournhspublic.com/camarathon.php.

Friday 5 July 5pm-7.30pm. Come for a fun evening rallying support for 10th July Council Assembly lobby over the bedroom tax. (‘Stop The Bedroom Tax – No Benefit Cuts, No Evictions’). Venue: SGTO offices, Bells Gardens Community Centre, 19 Buller Close, SE15 6UJ. Bring your own mobile phone to help with phoning contacts for next Wednesday’s lobby (see below). Phone David at SGTO on 020 7639 6718 if you intend to come.

Saturday 6 July 10.30am-12.30pm. Help making placards for 10th July Council Assembly lobby over the bedroom tax. Come to the Bells Centre for a fun day with the family. Materials provided, just come along and enjoy making banners to fight the unfair bedroom tax, ready for next Wednesday’s lobby (see below). Venue: SGTO offices, Bells Gardens Community Centre, 19 Buller Close, SE15 6UJ. Phone David at SGTO on 020 7639 6718 if you intend to come.

Saturday 6 July 12.30 -1.30pm. Bedroom Tax stall in Rye Lane, Peckham, to petition and leaflet for the 10th of July Council lobby (see below). Help is needed! To get petition forms for your estate or leaflets for the lobby, contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com, see their Facebook  page or phone SGTO office on 020 7639 6718.

Saturday 6 July Flash mob: Singing for our Health Service, to mark the 65th birthday of the NHS. More information from londonkeepournhspublic@gmail.com

Monday 8 July 3.45pm. Protest Cuts to UAL disability support. University of the Arts London management are cutting disability provision and academic support. These proposals mean valued support staff will have their pay cut, students risk having to travel miles for assessments and the possibility of private providers circling in the future. Staff and students were excluded from the recent review.
UCU has called a demonstration outside the Court of Governors meeting at UAL 272 High Holborn, WC1V 7EY.

Tuesday 9 July 7pm. Doors open for two short films and a talk looking at Greece’s health care system under austerity. Starting at 7.30pm, introduced by Joseph Healy from the Greece Solidarity Campaign. Venue: The Side Room, The Sun of Camberwell, Coldharbour Lane, SE5 9QW. Supported by King’s Unite branch. Open to clinical and non-clinical hospital workers. Enquiries/contact: healthworkersocial@hotmail.com

Wednesday 10 July 6pm. Lobby of Southwark Council to demand that Councillors oppose the Bedroom Tax and commit to not evicting tenants because of benefit cuts. Bring banners and placards! Called by Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations and other organisations. (The Council Assembly includes a themed debate on "Welfare Reform".) Venue: Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road (Off Albany Road). Order posters and leaflets for your estate by ringing 07896 341 964 or email southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com or see their Facebook page.

Saturday 13 July 10am. - 4pm. Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) National AGM. Hinde St Methodist Church, Thayer St, W1U 2QJ. Speakers include Polly Toynbee and reports from KONP groups round the country. Email agm@keepournhspublic.com for info and a registration form. (Only paid up supporters may attend.) More details at http://www.keepournhspublic.com/meeting.php?id=466

Saturday 20 July Time tbc. UK Uncut will be setting-up food banks inside branches of HSBC – shutting down Britain’s biggest, bonus-munching, crisis-causing, tax-dodging bank. Our taxes bailed them out, but they won’t pay their fair share and the government continues to let them get away with it. Find out more about organising a local protest at http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/call-out-stuff-the-banks-saturday-20th-july

Advance notice

Saturday 27 July National Day of Action called by the Anti-bedroom tax and Benefit Justice Campaign. More info to follow. See their new website or contact the local campaign at southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com

Friday 2 August 7.30pm. Fundraiser for the Anti-Bedroom Tax and Benefit Justice Federation at the Tottenham Chances, 399 Tottenham High Road London N17 6QN. Tickets - £5 waged / £2 unwaged £10 solidarity (tickets can be ordered in advance from benefitjustice@gmail.com). Disabled accessible.

Sunday 29 September All Day. Save Our NHS – national demonstration outside the Tory Party conference, Manchester. Supported by UNITE, GMB, UNISON and other organisations. Ask your campaign group/trade union branch to support this protest. Southwark Trade Union Council is coordinating local transport arrangements. More information from southwarktuc@gmail.com.

OTHER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS:

Crown Post Offices closures/franchising – Peckham & East Dulwich. Background information and petition sheet from the Communication Workers Union here.

Fire stations closures Southwark campaign information and their action plans are found at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/southwark

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meeting meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Southwark Pensioners Action Group Meets bi-monthly. Campaign information at http://www.spag.btck.co.uk/

Southwark Unison Currently campaigning against job cuts in nurseries and pupil referral units. More information at Tel: 0207 525 6030.

Join the protests to stop cuts to education, health, fire and postal services

14 June 2013
Education from nurseries to further education are facing big cuts, just as the Government presses on with cuts and privatisation of health, fire and postal services. Please help to spread the word about the protests shown below by tweeting or posting the events on your Facebook page, or help us with leafleting (see below) for campaigns against the bedroom tax or the post office closures.

EVENTS LIST

Thursday 19 June
 9am. Protest against fire brigade cuts at the next session of Mayor’s Question Time, to take place at City Hall Called by London FBU. Contact: Paul Embury on 07854 998508.

Thursday 20 June
2pm onwards. CWU members will be on strike against plans to close or franchise 76 Crown offices - 20% of the network. Details of the dispute from the Communication Workers Union at http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/post-office-strikes-number-6-and-7.html. Contact Chris Roche (CWU) on 07912 427 140 if you can help with petitioning or leafleting on behalf of the strikers.

Thursday 20 June
7pm. Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public campaign meeting. Venue: Duke of Cambridge pub, 74 Lansdowne Way, SW8 2DR, nr Stockwell Tube. For more details, phone 07913496012. All Southwark KONP supporters urged to attend.

Saturday 22 June
9.30am – 5pm. People's Assembly Against Austerity. Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London, SW1H 9NH. Supporting organisations include Unite the Union, PCS, NUT, NUJ, TSSA, Unison, War on Want, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Coalition of Resistance, People’s Charter, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, the Green Party. Register at http://thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/register/.

Wednesday 26 June
7pm. Southwark Trades Council AGM at In-Spire @ St Peter's Church, Liverpool Grove, SE17. Map at http://www.in-spire.org.uk/location.shtml
A report of Southwark SOS activities reports will be presented at the meeting, plus discussion of KNOP, Academies/Free Schools, Benefits Justice Campaign and other anti-cuts and austerity issues. More information from Southwark TUC at southwarktuc@gmail.com.

Wednesday 26 June
7pm. Southwark Save Our Services activities will be included in the STUC meeting (see item above) so there will be no separate Organising Group meeting this month. For a copy of the 2012-13 Southwark SOS campaign report, write to the Secretary at southwarksos@gmail.com

Saturday 29 June
All day. CWU members in Crown Post Offices will be on strike against plans to close or franchise 76 Crown offices - 20% of the network. Details of the dispute from the Communication Workers Union at  http://www.cwu.org/news/archive/post-office-strikes-number-6-and-7.html Contact Chris Roche (CWU) on 07912 427 140 if you can help with petitioning or leafleting on behalf of the strikers.

Saturday 29 June
11am-5pm.  Conference ‘March Together - Now Strike Together’. Organised by the National Shop Stewards Network. Speakers include Mark Serwotka, PCS, Billy Hayes, CWU, and Steve Gillan, POA, general secretaries. Venue: Camden Centre, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE. Includes sessions on the NHS cuts and housing. More info at www.shopstewards.net and registration from info@shopstewards.net or phone 07952 283 588.

Friday 5 July
4pm. Start of the CAMarathon: London to Witney, to mark the 65th birthday of the NHS and highlight the role of David Cameron and the Conservative party in abolishing the NHS. Assemble at Dept of Health, Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, SW1A 2NS. An ‘NHS coffin’ will be carried by 6 pallbearers, first to Parliament before being carried overnight to David Cameron's Witney constituency and delivered there on Saturday.  Details at http://www.keepournhspublic.com/camarathon.php.

Saturday 6 July
Flash mob: Singing for our Health Service, to mark the 65th birthday of the NHS more information from londonkeepournhspublic@gmail.com 

Wednesday 10 July
6pm. Lobby of Southwark Council to persuade Councillors to oppose the Bedroom Tax and commit to not evicting tenants because of benefit cuts. Bring banners and placards! Called by Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations (The Council Assembly includes a themed debate on "Welfare Reform".) Venue: Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Road (Off Albany Road). Order posters and leaflets for your estate by ringing 07896 341 964 or email southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com

Advance notice

Saturday 13 July
10am - 4pm. Keep Our NHS Public (KONP) National AGM. Hinde St Methodist Church, Thayer St, W1U 2QJ. Speakers include Polly Toynbee and reports from KONP groups round the country.

Saturday 27 July
National Day of Action called by the Anti-bedroom tax and Benefit Justice Campaign. More info to follow. See their new website at http://antibedroomtax.org.uk/ or contact the local campaign at southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com

OTHER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS:

Fire stations closures
Southwark campaign information and their action plans are found at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/southwark.

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meeting meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Southwark Benefit Justice Campaign
Contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com and see their Facebook page.
Southwark Pensioners Action Group
Meets bi-monthly. Campaign information at http://www.spag.btck.co.uk/
Southwark Unison
Currently campaigning against job cuts in nurseries and pupil referral units. For more information telephone 0207 525 6030.

PCS Workers on strike on Wednesday need your support

Dear anti-cuts activists

The workers who are being asked to implement the government’s harsh 'Welfare Reform' will be on strike this Wednesday.

Can you forward this email to your networks, and encourage members to support the events shown below.

Thank you
Chris Kelly
Secretary, Southwark SOS campaign


The UK government  is drastically scaling back public services  under the false claim that cuts are necessary to address the financial crisis caused by the collapse of the banking sector.  The PCS union is campaigning for

-         investment in HMRC to close the tax gap,

-         investment in the DWP to support people most in need at a time of mass unemployment and to generate revenue to fund other essential public services.

Support local picket lines from 8am-9.30am

As always any act of solidarity, messages to those on strike and visits to picket-lines are very welcome. In Southwark pickets should be at the following JCP offices

·        London Bridge (Newington Causeway)

·        Peckham JCP (Peckham High St)

If you can send a message of support by email, please send it to Sarah Murdock (PCS DWP Lambeth and Southwark branch organiser) at s.l.murdock05@gmail.com or text to 07879424631.

Come to a strike day rally at 12noon

Come to a strike day rally and support PCS members striking against cuts to vital public services. A special invitation is being made to all who are involved in campaigns for welfare claimants. It’s at:

The London Welsh Centre 157-163 Gray's Inn Road WC1X 8UE. Mark Serwotka will be speaking.

Protest meetings, leafleting and demonstrations

Southwark Action Alert                                  6 May 2013

Come along to these events. Make your voice heard against fire-station and post office closures, against the bedroom tax and threats to the NHS. Please help to spread the word by tweeting or posting this listing on your Facebook page, or help us with leafleting (see below).

EVENTS LIST

Tuesday 7 May
1pm onwards. Leafleting & petitioning against proposed closure/privatisation of Peckham Rye and Lordship Lane East Dulwich post offices. CWU members will be on strike against plans to close or franchise 76 Crown offices - 20% of the network - which would affect over 800 jobs. Details of the dispute from the Communication Workers Union here. Contact Chris Roche (CWU) on 07912 427 140 if you can help.

Tuesday 7 May
Public meeting to discuss the threatened closure of Southwark Fire Station at Queensborough Community Hall, Scovell Rd (off Southwark Bridge Road), SE1 1QF at 7pm. Called by Lant & Bittern Tenants & Residents Association. Open to all.

Wednesday 8 May – Friday 17 May
Various times. Public leafleting to advertise the All-London demonstration to save the NHS on 18 May (see below). Volunteers urgently needed to leaflet at rail stations and shopping centres in Southwark. Write to southwarksos@gmail.com  

Saturday 11 May
11am. Second Benefit Justice Summit: To create one national voice to end the war on the poor; to oppose the bedroom tax, cuts in council-tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and other cuts. Venue: Central Hall, Westminster. Video of first BJ Summit is here . More details at http://benefitjustice.wordpress.com or email to benefitjustice@gmail.com

Saturday 11th May
12 noon. Anti-workfare picket outside Poundland in Peckham. Called by SolFed. Details and background here.

Saturday 11 May
4pm.  First planning meeting to organise a demonstration "People United Against Austerity" to protest against the international troika and against austerity on 1st of June. Venue: Royal Festival Hall 4th floor. See Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/487313571341669/

Monday 13 May
1pm onwards. Turn Up the Heat On British Gas Protest at the AGM of Centrica – parent company of British Gas – at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE Map: http://goo.gl/maps/Vf1rI. More info and background at http://fuelpovertyaction.org.uk/

Tuesday 14 May
6.30pm. London Keep Our NHS Public campaign meeting at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H (opposite St Pancras Station).

Tuesday 14 May
7pm. Public Consultation meeting to discuss the proposed closure of 12 fire stations Venue: City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, SE1 2AA. Called by London Fire Brigade. Southwark FBU encourage all concerned residents to attend.

Thursday 16 May
6.30pm. Demonstration - Save Clapham Fire Station.  Assemble at Brixton Fire Station on Gresham Road.  March to Lambeth Town Hall.  Called by London Region Fire Brigades Union. Details at www.facebook.com/SaveClaphamFireStation

Thursday 16 May
7pm. Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public campaign meeting. Venue: Duke of Cambridge pub, 74 Lansdowne Way, SW8 2DR, nr Stockwell Tube. For more details, phone 07913496012. All Southwark KONP supporters urged to attend.

Saturday 18 May
12 noon. London-wide demonstration to Save the NHS. Assemble Jubilee Gardens, Waterloo, SE1. Supported by a wide range of hospital campaigns, health unions, medical staff, MPs, London Labour Party, Green Party. Get your trade union or community organisation to back the call. Mass distribution of leaflets is needed. Contact londonkeepournhspublic@gmail.com for copies or contact Southwark SOS to help with local leafleting.

Wednesday 22 May
7pm. Southwark Save Our Services Campaign organising meeting. Venue: Southbank University London Road Building. (Ask at Reception for Southwark SOS meeting room.) For agenda please contact southwarksos@gmail.com

Thursday 23 May
7pm. Public meeting: The fight against Austerity. Speakers: Kevin Courtney NUT deputy general secretary, Paul Embury, London regional secretary FBU. and Tanya Murat, Southwark Benefits Justice and anti-bedroom tax campaigner. Venue: Karibu Centre, 7 Gresham Rd, Brixton, SW9 7 PH. (Five minutes’ walk from Brixton tube.) Called by South London Unite the Resistance. Contact: southlondonutr@gmail.com

Wednesday 29 May
10.30am. Meeting: The Future of Housing in Southwark. Organised by Southwark Pensioners Forum. Venue: InSpire, Crypt at St. Peter’s, Liverpool Grove SE17 5HH. More information from 020 7708 4556, or write to mail@southwarkpensioners.org.uk or see www.southwarkpensioners.org.uk

Advance notice

Friday 7 June
9am - 4.30pm. Advice sessions: Get a better understanding of your rights and the impact that benefit changes may have on you. Sessions on the debt & budgeting, housing matters, employment, and the Welfare Reforms program. includes session at 2.30pm on Universal Credit and 3.45pm on the bedroom tax. Organised by Blackfriars Advice Centre and Cambridge House Law Centre. Booking a place must be done in advance, posted or dropped into the office at Blackfriars Advice Centre, or ring 020 7358 7000. Venue: Cambridge House, 1 Addington Square, SE5 0HF.

Saturday 15 June
Demonstration against NHS reforms – leafleting constituents of Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. Assemble at the ramp leading to Lewisham DLR Station at 08.30am for coach to Farnham, Surrey. Details at www.savelewishamhospital.com/the-hunt-for-hunt/ Book your coach ticket or enquiries to savelewishamhospital@yahoo.com

Saturday 22 June
9.30am – 5pm. People's Assembly Against Austerity. Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London, SW1H 9NH. Supporting organisations include Unite the Union, PCS, NUT, NUJ, TSSA, Unison, War on Want, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Coalition of Resistance, People’s Charter, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, the Green Party. Register here.

Saturday 29 June
11am-5pm.  Conference ‘March Together - Now Strike Together’. Organised by the National Shop Stewards Network. Speakers include Mark Serwotka, PCS, Billy Hayes, CWU, and Steve Gillan, POA, general secretaries. Venue: Camden Centre, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE. More info at www.shopstewards.net and registration from info@shopstewards.net or phone 07952 283 588.

Wednesday 3 July
7pm. Southwark Council Assembly  includes a themed debate on "Welfare Reform". It will be preceded by an hour-long informal session from 6pm and the main business meeting from 7pm. Venue to be announced.

Saturday 6 July
Demonstrations and other festivities to celebrate the NHS 65th birthday. Details to be announced.

OTHER LOCAL CAMPAIGNS:

Fire stations closures campaign information at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meeting meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Southwark Benefit Justice Campaign
Contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com and see their Facebook page.

Southwark Action Alert - 19 April 2013

Local demonstrations against health and fire service cuts, protests against cuts to benefits and the bedroom tax, strikes against redundancies and privatisation: these are all taking place in or near Southwark during the next month. The details and contact information are shown below, so come along and get involved!

EVENTS LIST

Saturday 20 April

12 noon to 1.30pm.  Petitioning against Bedroom Tax and leafleting for the Southwark Benefit Justice public meeting (see 27 April, below) at Rye Lane, near Aylsham Centre in Peckham. Please come along, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com or ring 07896 341 964.

Monday 22 April

7pm. Community Council meetings – an opportunity to tell the Councillors not to cooperate with welfare benefit changes or to evict tenants in arrears because of them. Leafleting & petitioning outside - Contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com or ring 07896 341 964 if you can help.

Two Venues: 

Dulwich Community Council at Kingswood House, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QR; Walworth, Borough and Bankside Community Council at Walworth Academy, Shorncliffe Rd, London SE1 5UJ.

Thursday 25 April

7am onwards. Strike against compulsory redundancies by NUT members at ARK Globe Academy Elephant and Castle. Pickets assembling at Harper Road entrance (off New Kent Road) SE1 6AF. Please send messages of support to: secretary@southwarknut.org.uk; emilybarney@btinternet.com; liammobile10@aol.com; garyedwardday@gmail.com Other strike dates are planned for May 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th, 9th.

Thursday 25 April

6pm. Southwark Save Our Services Campaign organising meeting. Venue: Walworth Methodist Church, Walworth Road SE17 (Please note the new time, date and venue for this month’s meeting.) For agenda contact southwarksos@gmail.com

Thursday 25 April

7pm. Public meeting: Stop the Bedroom Tax, No evictions due to Benefit Cuts

Venue: Walworth Methodist Church, Walworth Road SE17. All welcome. Directions here. Called by Southwark Benefit Justice campaign, supported by Defend Council Housing, Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations and others. Get leaflets to advertise this meeting at the SBJ Facebook page. Help distribute leaflets on your estate – contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com.

Thursday 25 April

7 pm.  Save Lewisham Hospital, Save our NHS Public meeting at Goldsmith College Great Hall, New Cross SE14 6NW. Speakers: Professor Colin Leys, John Lister, Rachael Maskell (National Officer Unite Union), Pat Smith (Labour Party), and Louise Irvine. More information from www.savelewishamhospital.com

Saturday 11 May

11am. Second Benefit Justice Summit: To create one national voice to end the war on the poor; to oppose the bedroom tax, cuts in council-tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and other cuts. Venue: Central Hall, Westminster. Video of first BJ Summit are here . More details at http://benefitjustice.wordpress.com  or email to benefitjustice@gmail.com.

Thursday 16 May

6.30pm. Demonstration - Save Clapham Fire Station.  Assemble at Brixton Fire Station on Gresham Road.  March to Lambeth Town Hall.  Called by London Region Fire Brigades Union. Details at www.facebook.com/SaveClaphamFireStation

Saturday 18 May

12 noon. London-wide demonstration to Save the NHS. Assemble Jubilee Gardens, Waterloo SE1. Supported by a wide range of hospital campaigns, health unions, medical staff, MPs, London Labour Party, Green Party. Get your trade union or community organisation to back the call. Mass distribution of leaflets is needed. Contact londonkeepournhspublic@gmail.com for copies or contact Southwark SOS to help with local leafleting.

Advance notice

Saturday 15 June

Hunt the Hunt - activity focused on our Health Secretary! Details at www.savelewishamhospital.com/the-hunt-for-hunt/

Saturday 22 June

9.30am – 5pm. People's Assembly Against Austerity. Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London, SW1H 9NH. Supporting organisations include Unite the Union, PCS, NUT, NUJ, TSSA, Unison, War on Want, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Coalition of Resistance, People’s Charter, Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, the Green Party. Register here.

Wednesday 3 July

Southwark Council Assembly  includes a themed debate on "Welfare Reform". It will be preceded by an hour-long informal session from 6pm and the main business meeting from 7pm. Venue to be announced.

Saturday 6 July

National demo and other festivities to celebrate the NHS' 65th birthday. Details to be announced.

ON-GOING CAMPAIGNS:

Fire stations closures campaign information at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meeting meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Benefit Justice Campaign
To create one national voice to end the war on the poor; to oppose the bedroom tax, cuts in council-tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and other cuts. National campaign website http://benefitjustice.wordpress.com Facebook   www.facebook.com/benefitjustice . Email to benefitjustice@gmail.com. Useful Press coverage:  Guardian: welfare facts and myths . Southwark campaign: contact southwarkbenefitjustice@gmail.com (see events in April, above) and see their Facebook page.

Strikes, marches, protests: all are happening this month!

The welfare benefit cuts will have a massive impact on the lives of thousands of Southwark residents in the coming months. Local meetings, some with more than a hundred angry residents, have shocked Council officers. The government has already been pushed into a corner over the bedroom tax but next week’s budget statement is bound to include even more cuts. 250,000 civil servants will strike against cuts next week and marches and protests are also planned by many different campaigns. Our list below has the details.

EVENTS LIST

Saturday 16 March

12 noon. March to Save Clapham Fire Station, assembling on Clapham Common. Residents, trade unionists, everyone – come along! Details at www.facebook.com/SaveClaphamFireStation

Saturday 16 March

10am - 4pm, Resisting Austerity in Europe and the UK Conference. Congress House, Great Russell St, London WC1 3LS. Organised by SERTUC Public Services and International Committees. To book, contact 020 7467 1218, or email JAdams@tuc.org.uk

Saturday 16 March

2-5pm. Anti-Academies Alliance AGM at Hughes Parry Hall nr King’s Cross. All are welcome to attend. More details from www.antiacademies.org.uk Facebook event here .

Saturday 16 March

3 pm onwards. Boycott Workfare – a mass workfare sleuth along the Walworth Road, (meet at 3pm in front of Strata Tower) followed by a social at London Action Resource Centre (LARC) - travel expenses will be covered. All welcome! Then social at 5pm at LARC (travel expenses to LARC will be covered) Facebook event. Find out about what happens in a sleuth here.

Saturdays, 16 March - 4 May

11am – 4pm. Housing Consultation about the future of housing in Southwark: Make your voice heard! A series of Southwark Council’s ‘community conversations’. 16 March in Peckham Square, 23 March in The Blue, 6 April outside Co-op, Lordship Lane, Dulwich, 13 April Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, 20 April at  Butterfly Walk Shopping Centre, Camberwell, 27 April at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, 4 May 2013, in  Dulwich Park.

Monday 18 March

6.30pm. Organising Meeting of London Keep Our NHS Public, planning for the Defend London NHS Demonstration on 18 May. Venue: Camden Town Hall, Judd St, WC1 (Opposite Kings Cross station). More information from www.keepournhspublic.com or contact LondonKeepOurNHSPublic@gmail.com

Tuesday 19 March

7pm. Southwark Defend Council Housing campaign meeting. Venue: St. John's parish office, 18 Larcom Street SE17 1NQ.

Wednesday 20 March

George Osborne will make his budget speech.

7am – 10am. National PCS strike day – picket lines across Southwark – visit them at government offices, galleries, courts, job centres etc. For specific locations contact southwarksos@gmail.com

12 noon - 2pm Rally in central London Assemble Old Palace Yard, next to the Palace of Westminster. Big screen showing Osborne delivering the budget. Speakers include strikers and PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka.  All trade unionists/ supporters are welcome to attend the rally. Campaign information and updates at: http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/national-campaigns/action-now/index.cfm 

5.30pm. March against Tory budget cuts - Stop attacking the welfare state - Hands off our NHS. We don’t know yet what George Osborne has in store for us on Budget Day but we know it won’t be good. Assemble outside King’s College, the Strand. March to Downing Street rally from 6.30pm See http://uniteresist.org/

7.30pm. Planning Southwark’s anti-cuts campaigns: Southwark Save Our Services Organising Meeting (See below)

Wednesday 20 March

7.30pm. Southwark Save Our Services Organising Meeting – Main items: Building campaigns against the welfare benefit changes, for Benefits Justice, against the bedroom tax, supporting the PCS strikes, saving our Fire Stations. Room A3 at South Bank Uni London Road Building SE1. (Note this later start time due to protest events in central London beforehand.)

Thursday 21 March

7pm. Meeting of Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public at Duke of Cambridge pub, 74, Lansdowne Way, Stockwell, SW8 2DR. More details from lambethkonp@gmail.com

Monday 25th March

7pm. No Ifs, No Buts - NOT GUILTY! How we fought and won. Public meeting called by Defend the Right to Protest campaign: With Alfie Meadows (acquitted student protester), Matt Foot, Zak King, Max Watson & Sussex Uni Occupier. Details here. Venue: SOAS, off Russell Square WC1H 0XG.

Friday 5 April

1pm. National half-day strike of PCS members to mark the end of the 2012/13 tax year and in protest about imposed extra pension contributions, while millionaires are being given a tax cut.  This starts a week of tax justice campaigning highlighting the £120 billion tax gap. More details at the PCS website here.

Advance notice

Wednesday 17 April

7pm. Two Community Council meetings: in Camberwell and in Peckham & Nunhead – an opportunity to tell the Councillors not to cooperate with welfare benefit changes or to evict tenants in arrears because of them. Check the council’s website to see if welfare benefit changes are on the agenda.

Monday 22 April

7pm. Two Community Council meetings: in Dulwich and in Walworth – an opportunity to tell the Councillors not to cooperate with welfare benefit changes or to evict tenants in arrears because of them. Check the council’s website to see if welfare benefit changes are on the agenda.

Saturday 11 May

Second Benefit Justice Summit: To create one national voice to end the war on the poor; to oppose the bedroom tax, cuts in council-tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and other cuts. Video of first BJ Summit are here . Details to be announced via website  http://benefitjustice.wordpress.com or send emails to benefitjustice@gmail.com

Saturday 18 May

12 noon. London wide demonstration to Save the NHS. Assemble Jubilee Gardens, Waterloo SE1. Supported by a range of Hospital Campaigns, UNITE the union and London Labour Party. Get your trade union or community organisation to back the call! (See 18 March, above -London Keep Our NHS Public meeting)

Saturday 22 June

9.30am – 5pm. People's Assembly Against Austerity. Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London, SW1H 9NH. Called by the Coalition of Resistance. Details here .

ON-GOING CAMPAIGNS:

Fire stations closures campaign information at http://www.saveourstations.org.uk/

Southwark Disabled People Against Cuts meeting meet at Southwark Independent Living Centre, 10 Bradenham Close, SE17 2QB. Details from southwarkdpac@mail.com

Benefit Justice Campaign

To create one national voice to end the war on the poor; to oppose the bedroom tax, cuts in council-tax benefit, ending disability living allowance and other cuts. Their website is http://benefitjustice.wordpress.com. Send emails to benefitjustice@gmail.com

Follow us!

http://southwarksaveourservices.blogspot.com/

Twitter @southwarkSOS

Facebook: Southwark SSOS

Are you part of a community group or campaign? We’d like to hear from you. Tell us what you’re doing and we can advertise your anti-cuts campaign activities. Email us at. All our organising meetings are open. Please come along (details above).