No. 26 Students & Workers Fight the cuts!

Bulletin 26

Students & Workers Fight the Cuts!

It was great to see the joint UCU & NUS demonstration against sky-high fees and HE cuts, with 50,000 mainly students but also education workers marching through London. A little of what happens when a union leadership take a national lead. Perhaps this might inspire our collective unions to instigate a demonstration this year? The day surpassed the expectations of those organising it with its frustratingly short but incredibly lively demonstration.

Apparently NUS are now putting forward the idea to push out Liberal Dem MP's who vote for the fees; little is said about what position Labour would actually take on this. Meantime, many other students are organising to Walk out next Wed 24th Nov, with Sussex University are already in occupation. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134751449911080

Bob Crow (RMT) said "The political and chattering classes have seriously underestimated the public mood and RMT will work with students, pensioners, communities and our fellow trade unionists to build the strongest possible co-ordinated and peaceful resistance in the coming months."

Over 50 people are being questioned around the storming of Tory HQ, whilst the real criminals are still getting away with stealing our collective wealth & futures. http://www.facebook.com/pages/We-need-unity-defend-the-Millbank-protestors/128397300550227


UPDATES:
Over 200 people lobbied Liverpool Council last week, whilst the workforce blocked roads. Ex Deputy leader of the surcharged Liverpool 47 councillors called on the Labour council to refuse to carry out cuts, arguing there was a choice; refuse to weild the Tory axe, set a budget based on the needs of working class people in the city and mount a massive campaign to force central government to fund it. Councillors can no longer be surcharged for taking this stance. Another 100 greeted Taunton council with boos and chants as they arrived to approve £43m of cuts.

A large, and positive, meeting to set up an all Scottish Anti cuts alliance/federation was well attended with a steering group agreed, one person from each campaign. Co-ordinated action was discussed with Glasgow Unison tabling a resolution at Scottish Unison Conference for a one day public sector strike.

COMING UP

Wed 17th
FBU - National Lobby & Rally, 12 - 3 Central Hall, Westminster
Defend public safety: Investment – not cuts. No pay freeze.Hands off our pensions. Scrap Regional Controls. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9e0zhoc4Rh9l7hR5o1KG4AQ;www.fbu.org.uk/index.php

Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance – Lobby Council. 5.15pm Lewisham Town Hall. http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9Q34NvlB0GqzSf5FslGeDtw;lewishamanticutsalliance.wordpress.com/upcoming-meetings/

Thurs 18th
Lobby of Scottish Parliament called by PCS from 11.30
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9jGSarzVVIeNT5voD7dXj-A;www.pcs.org.uk/en/scotland/pcs-campaigns-in-Scotland.cfm

Sat 20th
Gloucestershire Trades Council and Anti Cuts Alliance March & Rally, 10:30 prompt Gloucester Park to Kings Square http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9GJ_7wUIAsF9-6NOLz5ud-w;www.anticutsglos.co.uk

Preston Trades Council March & Rally, 11.00 at the Flagmarket in Preston.

Cambridgeshire Against the Cuts conference 10.30 am – 4pm Bailey Rooms, Castle St, Cambridge http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9j2VASDubjbU-sYppmgLzuA;www.cambridgeshireagainstthecuts.org.uk/p/register-for-20th-march-meeting.html

Nottingham March and Rally, 11.30am Forest Recreation Ground to the Market Square, rally 12.30pm.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec93qOGyGT1cM54_-7bknx_xg;nottssos.org.uk/

THIS WEEK Anti cuts meetings in:
Croydon, Birmingham, Sunderland, Manchester, Lancaster, Newcastle, Durham, Glasgow, Blackpool, Lambeth, Haringey, York, Harrogate: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9i82dn1oIQYOhJEq8SgjRgw;anticuts.org.uk/?page_id=152

Thursday 25th
RMT Rally against London Underground Job Cuts. http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142422622472987

8th Dec
North West SSN: Town Hall Albert Square 7.30-10am lobby before council meets 4-6pm demonstration after council meets
07904 965 780 nwshopstewardsnetwork @gmail.com

22nd Jan
National Shop Stewards Conference
All trade unionists, anti cuts alliances, trades councils and anyone else who is prepared to fight the cuts and ongoing privatisation to attend and take part in the campaigns 12 - 4 South Camden Community School, Charrington St http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=159784320718030
Book your places now!

And a bit of Culture:
Mark Thomas Tour : Extreme Rambling & The Manefesto Show
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9SkL4N8IAPKXGPyCmYZWWLA;www.markthomasinfo.com/section%5Fgigs/

Red Ladder: Liverpool, 1960. A two-week strike by both dockworkers and seafarers has paralysed the port, and against a backdrop of picketing, marches and jailings one local family plays out the changing times.
http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9lyJtGpzaDv7kEKH-etlCqQ;www.redladder.co.uk/bm/tours/sex-docks-rocknroll-tour-schedule.shtml

Reel News
Bi monthly Activist Video: To subscribe for 1 year (6 issues), send a cheque for £50 payable to Reel News; Shaun (Reel News): 07779 109628

WEB: http://www.facebook.com/l/4fec9rhJ4-ug12VD24xuL-KWruA;www.shopsteward.net
Facebook LIKES page: NSSN - Fighting Cuts & Privatisation
Tel: 0208 522 1156
E: info@shopstewards.net

Representing Resistance? Performing Resistance!

This week is mad..

Yesterday Firefighters struck against the 90 day notices to sack them all which ends later this end, if they do not sign new contracts with shift changes.

- Update link on NSSN - LIKES page
- Update info on NSSN group page
- Collect info to send to Group e on FB, also through main elist and Morning Start group also forwarded both our emails.

- Towards the end of the day 2 firefighters are injured, one seriously by scabs... information shared online and in conversations.
- RMT arrange a protest at the peoples question time - info shared, text, email and mainly FB.

Share information on ASLEF/RMT H & S concerns around work..

Funny no news except Croydon local online about injuries... mention them as protestors as opposed to a striking firefighter being run over by fire managers and senior staff! Its a disgrace..

Still taking photos...

For the symposium I mainly prepared what was my project, finally, and where I was at. I had a few interviews I intended to show little parts of, so we could hear together the stories. The memories, history, in detail that was beginning to piece together.

So here is a video, or powerpoint, of some of the photos I took. Probably importantly there is so much skyline. Looking at the stars, the breadth of what the 47 were struggling for and gained, things and thoughts that had not even begun in so many other places. And of one or two women, one who is working with me and another who maybe would like to, but is really important to have in the work. Originally she didn't want to be interviewed but on the last day of the shoot she agreed, she glowed and engaged so well. It was quite moving. She worried her memory would let her down, and she didn't speak like the other political people. That's not the style I wanted, not the only style. Women, I think speak differently and I like that and want that. Politics is ours, this world, the everyday, the everything is ours. We could and should talk of it however we wish. My challenge was how to make the invisible visible but in the process and chats with her.. she grew to feel more confident and will be within this.

I spoke for a few seconds to Daniel R after his session on power, all the way through I wanted to through something like a spoilt brat. Do you think we are thick? Don't you think we understand power operates beyond the obvious? And are Fouc and Choms the only ones? Marxism and dialectics is within this.. is within the relationship of structures power, or where the powers are but some of us are less conscious or confident of our powers and abilities.

He made it seem there was a choice of only seeing the state and government or seeing power in how it manifests itself everyday. It is both. It is both.

I realised lots of others got into his session and M was understated in her questions though they were sharp and unearthing, I think he didn't even realise this. Never underestimate M, she is a layered person with so much more than many people realise.

But I caught D on the way out, or so I thought, out of the room. And said I would like to talk to him, he suggested going to his room but that wasn't possible. He then asked what I was doing, I said REPRESENTING RESISTANCE, he said F would have said PERFORMING RESISTANCE. Not sure I agree that one stands against the other but together, together as a participant in this and more, it is both. And if nothing else but a need for me to reflect on my shameless anger.. I have that now. 4 words that say so much more. By attempting to represent, I perform and I am with all the conversations that have gone on..