Sunday, 8 November 2015

Attacks on library services, housing, trade unions

Southwark Action Alerts                                                              7th November 2015

Today is another chance to support those in neighbouring Lambeth who are marching in protest at the plan to close three  libraries and convert five other into unstaffed ‘lounges’.  On Tuesday, college lecturers are on strike and in the evening there is another chance to protest against the government’s new laws restricting trade unions ability to organise strikes. With junior doctors currently balloting for industrial action over cuts to their salaries and increased hours, you can support their call for strike action here. Watch for updates in our next newsletter or join the workshop at the conference on 14 November (details below).

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

EVENTS LIST

Saturday 7 November
10.30 – 12.30pm. March to Save Lambeth Libraries from Brixton Library to Tate South London Library where Cabinet Member Jane Edbrooke (responsible for the proposals to 'decommission' five of Lambeth's libraries) will be holding her surgery. Assemble Windrush Square, Brixton. More details here.

Saturday 7 November
12.30pm -1.30pm. Stall organised by Southwark Defend Council Housing Campaign in Rye Lane (outside Boots), Peckham SE15. Campaigners will be collecting names on a petition to give to Southwark Council against the selling off of council housing, being replaced by mainly private rented housing.

Tuesday 10 November
7.30am onwards. Picket-lines at Lewisham Southwark College as part of a further education national strike action over pay. There will be picket lines at all 3 sites: Lewisham Way, Deptford and Waterloo. Please go along and show your support if you can. Strike call by UCU. Details of the action here.

Tuesday 10 November
6pm. Protest at the third reading of the Trade Union bill which will restrict unions’ ability to organise strikes in defence of jobs, conditions and services. Assemble in Parliament Square. Organised by Trade Union Coordinating Group. Details and leaflet to download here .

Saturday 14 November
11am – 5pm. Fight Austerity, Defend our Unions conference. Speakers include Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Matt Wrack (FBU), Natalie Bennett (Green Party Leader), Kevin Courtney (NUT), Steve Gillan (POA) and John Hendy QC.
Workshops include the fight against unsocial hours contracts in the health service, opposition to the Trade Union bill, benefit cuts, combatting racism and scapegoating. Organised by Unite the Resistance. Venue: Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Ave, London, WC2H 8EP. Book your ticket here.

Thursday 19 November
6.30pm. South London People’s Assembly Organising meeting. Bread & Roses pub, 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ. More information from secretary@southlondonpa.org. Click here for the facebook event.

Thursday 19 November
7pm - 9pm. Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public organising meeting in Pratts and Payne, 103 Streatham High Road, SW16 1HJ.  (Note the change of day and venue this month.) 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 .

COMING SOON

Saturday 21 November
1pm - 5pm. London Rally: Building the Fight Against Austerity. See Facebook .

Tuesday 24 November
6pm. Protest: Tories: Out of Credit - Out of Office Now Protest on day of the Autumn Statement. See facebook event here.

Tuesday 24 November
7pm. Defend Council Housing meeting. More information from southwarkdch@gmail.com

Thursday 26th November
8pm ‘The Trouble with TTIP’ film and speaker in Herne Hill, SE24. Organised by 38degrees.

Saturday 5 December
People's Assembly Annual Conference
10am – 5pm. Central London. Tickets and more information will be available soon here.

Monday, 26 October 2015

Junior doctors’ campaign is a fight to defend the NHS

Southwark Action Alert                                                                25 October 2015

Junior doctors will shortly be balloting for strike action in their fight against wage cuts. Southwark’s hospitals - King’s and Guy’s - would be affected and if you get friends and workmates to sign the attached petition this will boost doctors’ morale in their fight against these cuts.

In neighbouring Lambeth, the council is going ahead with its plan to close five libraries, three will be turned into gyms and five others converted into unstaffed ‘lounges’. Details of a protest march are shown below.

Workers in Southwark who decide to take strike action to oppose cuts to services and jobs will be prevented from doing so by the Government’s Trade Union bill which is one of the biggest attacks on the right to strike and organise for decades. Rallies and protests are shown below.

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

EVENTS LIST

Monday 26 October
6.30pm. Public Meeting on the Trade Union Bill. Called By Lambeth Trades Council. Guest Speaker from Institute for Employment Rights. Vida Walsh Centre, Saltoun Road, Brixton, London SW2 1EP.

Tuesday 27 October
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

Saturday 31 October
12.30pm -1.30pm. Stall organised by Southwark Defend Council Housing Campaign in Rye Lane (outside Boots), Peckham SE15

Monday 2 November
1pm. Lobby of parliament against the Trade Union Bill. Called by the TUC.
6pm. Protest against Trade Union Bill at Parliament Square. Organised by Trade Union Coordinating Group (TUCG). Download leaflet here.
Use the “selfie” poster here to use at work for solidarity pictures and protests.

Wednesday 4 November
12noon. National Student demonstration: Free Education & Living Grants for All: No Barriers // No Borders // No Business! See Facebook here. Assemble Malet St. Called by NCFAC, supported by 40 UK campuses to date

1-3pm. Pensioners’ Lobby of Parliament for Better Care & Pensions. Rally in Committee Room 14, House of Commons. Called by the National Pensioners Convention. Get leaflet here.

6.30pm.  ‘Refugees Welcome Here’ public meeting. Speakers include: Diane Abbott MP Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Owen Jones, Francesca Martinez, Shahrar Ali Green Party Deputy Leader, Anna Musgrove Refugee Council. Called by Stand Up to Racism. At Camden Centre WC1H 9JE. More details here.

Saturday 7 November
10.30am. Assemble for March to Save Lambeth Libraries in Windrush Square, Opp. Town Hall, march to Tate Library, South Lambeth Road. More details here.

Saturday 14 November
11am – 5pm. Fight Austerity, Defend our Unions conference. Speakers include Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, Matt Wrack (FBU), Natalie Bennett (Green Party Leader), Kevin Courtney (NUT), Steve Gillan (POA) and John Hendy QC.

A key theme is also combatting racism and scapegoating. Organised by Unite the Resistance. Book your ticket here.

Thursday 19 November
6.30pm. South London People’s Assembly Organising meeting. Bread & Roses pub, 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ. More information from secretary@southlondonpa.org. Click here for the facebook event.

Thursday 19 November
7pm - 9pm. Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public organising meeting in Pratts and Payne, 103 Streatham High Road, SW16 1HJ.  (Note the change of day and venue this month.) 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 .

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.

Defend Lewisham Southwark College campaign. 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.

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

London Unemployed Strategies (LUS) - a campaign to give a voice to unemployed people. For more 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 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

Saturday, 17 October 2015

Libraries and homes – key campaigns this month

Southwark Action Alert                        9 October 2015

Southwark’s adjacent borough, Lambeth, is planning to close five libraries: Despite 1.3 million visits to the borough’s libraries last year, three libraries will be turned into gyms and five others converted into unstaffed ‘lounges’. Details of the protest lobby this Monday are shown below. You will also find details of several events relating to the demand for protection of council homes from private property developers.

EVENTS LIST

Saturday 10 October
12-1pm. Stall organised by Southwark Defend Council Housing Campaign Outside Morrisons, Walworth Road, Opposite East Street. (Please note that the Peoples Housing Conference, planned for this date has been cancelled.)

Saturday 10 October
2pm-4pm. Petitioning to urge Lambeth Council to pass a motion against TTIP. Meet in Windrush Square (opposite the Town Hall). Organised by Keep Our NHS Public and Global Justice. Find out more at https://www.facebook.com/LambethKONP

Monday 12 October
6.30pm. Save Lambeth Libraries - Lobby Lambeth Council at Dunraven School 94/98 Leigham Court Road SW16 2QB. Five libraries to be closed. Download flyer with full details at http://t.co/fzPZRfNNlJ .

Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 October
10am – 5pm. The Aylesbury estate Compulsory Purchase Order reconvenes in Arry's Bar at Millwall Football Ground, Zampa Road, London SE16 3LN. If you live on the Aylesbury and want to attend Aylesbury Tenants and Leaseholders First are arranging transport.

Tuesday 13 October
5pm. Trade Union Co-ordinating Group ‘Kill the Bill’ protest & rally –outside Parliament for protest then 6pm Committee Room 10 House of Commons for rally - Chair: Steve Gillan POA. Speakers: Matt Wrack FBU, Michelle Stanistreet NUJ, Mark Serwotka PCS, Mick Cash RMT, John Hendy QC, Professor Keith Ewing, John McDonnell MP Shadow Chancellor, Caroline Lucas MP, Ian Lavery MP, Hannah Bardell MP, Rob Williams NSSN, Michael Bradley, Unite the Resistance. More info from TUCG website

Thursday 15 October
6.30pm. Public meeting: Homes for public need – not private greed with speakers from the European housing crisis coalition, anti-MIPIM campaigners and other campaigns for land and public infrastructure. At GMB office, 22 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD. Facebook event here.

Saturday 17 October
12noon – 2pm. Join the Junior Doctors' London Protest, marching from Waterloo Place (off Pall Mall) to Parliament Square. Support them in their struggle against a new contract which would mean cuts in pay of around 30% and a huge increase in working hours.

Tuesday 20 October
7pm. Lambeth Keep Our NHS Public organising meeting in the White Lion pub, 232-4 Streatham High Road, SW16 1BB. (Note the change of day and venue this month.)

Wednesday 21 October
9am. Demonstration outside the property fair, MIPIM, at Olympia, Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX.  Organised by Radical Housing Network, supported by Housing Action in Southwark & Lambeth, Defend Council Housing and others. More details here.

Tuesday 27 October
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. More information from southwarkdch@gmail.com


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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 southwarksos@gmail.com.

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

Thursday, 20 August 2015

Health services under the axe!

Southwark Action Alert                        16th August 2015

You don’t need to look far to see the scale of cuts people in Southwark are facing: Public health funding in south London will be cut by £40 million from next January; King’s College Foundation Trust is estimating an £86million shortfall in this financial year, threatening job losses and a deteriorating service. And health is supposed to be a ‘protected’ area of government spending!

These are all reasons for joining people from Southwark who 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.

EVENTS LIST

Tuesday 18 August
7.15am to 9.30am. Protest against fare rises and calling for an affordable railway under public ownership. At Waterloo station, outside Exit 5, ‘Victory Arch’. Called by Action For Rail Campaign. See more here.

Wednesday 19 August
9am onwards. 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. Strikers will help adapt a suitable painting from the National Gallery collection to help publicise our solidarity. For updates visit the strike Facebook page ‘No Privatisation at The National Gallery’.

Saturday 22 August
4pm – 7pm. Meeting of Aylesbury Tenants and Leaseholders First, inviting residents and friends to discuss what is happening on the estate and listen to people who have been displaced by Council’s previous demolitions. Venue: Pembroke House, 80 Tatum Street SE17 1QR.  Email: aylesburytenant@yahoo.co.uk or call: 07476532632.


ADVANCE NOTICE

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/

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. More information from southwarkdch@gmail.com

Sunday 4 October
7am. Coaches depart Southwark to the TUC’s national demonstration at the Tory Party Conference, Manchester.See details here. If you want to go, reply to this email 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 above 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 ‘Defend Lewisham Southwark College’. You can download the latest proposal from Southwark Council’s website.

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

London Unemployed Strategies (LUS) - a campaign to give a voice to unemployed people. For more 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.

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.

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

Sunday, 26 July 2015

Southwark Will Suffer

Southwark Action Alert     21 July 2015


The new government’s austerity plans will have a huge impact on Southwark: cuts to welfare will worsen poverty, imposition of a new Right to Buy will compound the housing crisis, cuts and closures will decimate further education, the abolition of grants will increase student debt. These are all reasons for joining people from Southwark who 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 event? Or help with costs of hiring transport and selling tickets? Reply to this email to let us know.

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


EVENTS LIST

Saturday 25 July

12-1pm. Benefit Justice stall petitioning against the benefit cuts. Venue: Outside Boots on Rye Lane. On top of the cuts to disability benefits, working tax credits, the continuation of the bedroom tax and other brutal cuts the reduction of the benefit cap to £23,000 will mean that another 500 families in Southwark may now be forced to move away from their friends, families and communities, many out of London.

Tuesday 28 July

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

Wednesday 29 July
Reviewing and Resisting the Trade Union Bill public meeting, 6pm Mander Hall, NUT, Marbledon Place WC1 9BD
Representatives from the TUCFBURMTPCSUNITEUNISON and ASLEF, have already agreed to join with IER experts John Hendy and Keith Ewing, together with MPs and others to determine what steps the labour movement needs to take to expose the unfair and undemocratic nature of the government’s proposals.
See http://www.tradeunionfreedom.co.uk/reviewing-resisting-the-trade-union-bill/

ADVANCE NOTICE

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/

Sunday 4 October

National Demonstration at the Tory Party Conference, Manchester. Called by the TUC and the People’s Assembly. Details will follow. Can your trade union branch/campaign give formal support to the advertising of this event? Or help with costs of hiring transport and selling tickets? Reply to this email or write to secretary@southlondonpa.org

4-8th 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

Defend Lewisham Southwark College campaign 312 jobs have been at risk. The Camberwell will be closed at the end of July and sold off for approx.. £5m. The 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

London Unemployed Strategies (LUS) - a campaign to give a voice to unemployed people. For more 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 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

Monday, 15 June 2015

Southwark Action Alert 11th June 2015

While Southwark campaigners continue to organise to stop the destruction of council homes and huge cuts to further education in the borough (see below), thousands of south Londoners will be going to the national demonstration against austerity in a week’s time. Please help us leafleting at local shopping centres, rail/tube stations, colleges and workplaces. Reply to this email if you want leaflets or come to one of the sessions listed below. Full details below. 

Please note we have a new Facebook link: Southwark SOS
***Please put in your diary this month’s events, shown below***
Please tweet this listing, link to our website or post on your own Facebook page. Thank you.

EVENTS LIST

Friday 12 June
5.30pm – 6.30pm. Leafleting for the People’s Assembly demonstration. Meet at Elephant & Castle Northern Line Tube exit. Contact John on 07519811657 if you can come.

Friday 12 June
6pm-7pm. Aylesbury Estate petitioning against demolition and in favour of refurbishment. 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.

Friday 12 June
6.30 pm. Defend Lewisham Southwark College campaign meeting in Room RHB138, Goldsmiths University. 312 jobs are at risk. The Camberwell site is threatened with complete closure. This will devastate South East London by almost demolishing FE in two boroughs where it is a crucial second chance for many people. Come along, or contact savelscollege@gmail.com for more info or to join the mailing list. Campaign Facebook page here.

Saturday 13 June
11am-4.30pm. Defend Council Housing Tenants and Housing Summit
The summit will bring together housing campaigners to share experiences. How do we build resistance after the after the brilliant campaigns at Focus E15, New Era, Fred Wigg, Aylesbury and Cressingham and Sweets Way, and the March for Homes. Venue: Bloomsbury Baptist Church Hall, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EP. Near Tottenham Court Road & Holborn underground. See www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk or contact info@defendcouncilhousing.org.uk

Sunday 14 June
11am – 4pm. Leafleting for People's Assembly demo on 20th June at Portugal Day Festival on Streatham Common. 70,000 people are expected. Meet at SE Region TUC tent.

Sunday 14 June
1pm. Mega-stall for 20 June demo - leafleting and other publicity. Outside the Whitgift Centre, Croydon Town Centre, a few minutes’ walk from both East Croydon and West Croydon stations. Also buses 109 or 250 from Brixton. Facebook event here. Or phone 07957 780 532.

Monday-Friday 15-19 June
Leafleting for People's Assembly demonstration. Times and locations are still being finalised. Email southwarksos@gmail.com or ring 07939090667 to get details.

Saturday 20 June
12noon. National Demonstration and festival: END AUSTERITY NOW - the message to the new Tory government. More than 70,000 people have already said via Facebook they will be coming.

Assembly time & place: 12pm, Bank of England (Queen Victoria St) City of London. Nearest tube: Bank.

Southwark meeting point: 12noon outside Metropolitan Tabernacle opp. Elephant & Castle Rail Station. (Contact Tanya on the day on 07792 786 192)

See march route here to Parliament Square.

Called by the People’s Assembly. Weblink here. Share & invite your friends on Facebook.

Tuesday 23 June (date to be confirmed)
All day. Strike against education cuts and redundancies at Lewisham Southwark College. 312 jobs are at risk. The Camberwell site is threatened with complete closure. This will devastate South East London by almost demolishing FE in two boroughs where it is a crucial second chance for many people. Contact savelscollege@gmail.com for more info. or to send messages of support.

Tuesday 30 June
7pm Southwark 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. Agenda includes the campaign against the demolition of the Aylesbury, the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area (Council Estates will be in it), Southwark Plan, lobby of the Council Assembly 8 July.
More information from southwarkdch@gmail.com


ADVANCE NOTICE

Thursday 2 July
6.30pm. ‘Fight the anti-union laws’ forum with speakers include Mark Serwotka PCS gen sec, Michelle Stanistreet Gen Sec NUJ, Candy Udwin sacked PCS National Gallery rep, John McDonnell MP, Chris Stephens MP (SNP) and Ian Hodson National President BFAWU. Plus other strikers. Venue: Student Central (previously ULU) Malet Street, London WC1E 7AY. Organised by London Unite the Resistance. Facebook page here.

Saturday 4 July
11am – 4.30pm. ‘Stop the union-busters’ conference, in Conway Hall in London. Confirmed speakers include Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary, Ronnie Draper BFAWU General Secretary, Matt Wrack FBU General Secretary & Dave Smith anti-blacklisting campaigner. Organised by the National Shop Stewards Network. Leaflet with more details here.

Wednesday 8 July
6pm. Lobby Southwark Council – stop destroying council homes - Refurbishment not demolition for the Aylesbury! Venue: notified by the council in early July at http://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/
Download copy of leaflet at the Southwark DCH Facebook page here.

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.

Keep Our NHS Public meet monthly 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. The campaign’s Facebook page is here. Contact  londonplaycampaign@gmail.com

London Unemployed Strategies (LUS) - a campaign to give a voice to unemployed people. For more information and to get involved, contact Nick on: 020 7467 1283 or 07530 001653, or email nickplus007@gmail.com. Facebook page 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 meet monthly at Bread & Roses pub, 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ. More information from secretary@southlondonpa.org

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 meet 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