Remember when Carers, Teachers, Police Officers, Soldiers, Nurses, Fire-fighters, and other government employees crashed the stock market, took billions in bailout money, wiped out banks, took millions in bonuses, stopped their contributions to the pension system and paid no taxes? No? Me neither!
Davy Cameron's New Model (after cuts) Army
On Thursday 30th June 2011, hundreds of thousands of union members will be striking against an attack on their hard fought and won pension rights. People are being forced to withdraw their labour because they are outraged at having to pay for an economic crisis caused by selfish bankers and unaccountable financial institutions. Our public services, jobs and pensions are under attack by the ConDem Government of Millionaires for Millionaires.
Show solidarity with striking public sector workers. You can do this by joining a picket line in your locality and/or by attending one of the rallies listed below:
Aberystwyth: noon, rally at Morlan Centre, Queens Road, SY23 2HH.
Bedford: 10am, rally at Civic Theatre, Horne Lane, MK40 1RA. Speakers include Jim Stringer from PCS.
Birmingham: noon, gather for rally and march which will start and finish at Victoria Square, B1 1BD. Speakers include: Hugh Lanning, PCS deputy general secretary; Vici Whittal, PCS Birmingham prison; Jason Ferraby, PCS Cannock Department for Work and Pensions; and Kevin Courtney, National Union of Teachers (NUT) deputy general secretary.
Brighton: 10:30am assemble at The Level, 37 Ditchling Road, BN1 4SB. March to Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, BN3 4AH for rally at noon. Speakers include Dominic McFadden, PCS national executive (NEC).
Bristol: 11am, assemble at College Green, BS1 5TA. March to Castle Green, Wine Street, BS1 2BH, for speakers including John McInally, PCS vice president. There will be an afternoon of stalls and entertainment in Castle Park, Castle Street, BS1 3XD.
Cambridge: noon, rally at Parker's Piece, Parkside, CB1 1JE.
Canterbury: 10am to 2pm, rally at Abbotts Barton Hotel, New Dover Road, Canterbury, CT1 3DU. Speakers include John Walder, Kent NUT divisional secretary.
Cardiff: noon, assemble Sofia Gardens, Cathedral Road, CF11 9XR. March to Cathays Park, CF10 3ND, for a rally. Speakers include: Andy Richards, president of Wales Trades Union Congres; and Dave Bean, deputy president PCS.
Carlisle: 12.30pm rally by Old Town Hall, CA3 8JH, with music and food. Speakers include: Mary Ferguson, PCS NEC.
Chatham: noon to 2pm rally at Command House, Dock Road, ME4 4TX. Speakers include Zita Holbourne, PCS NEC.
Chelmsford: 11am, rally at High Street, CM1 1BE.
Chester: 12.30pm, rally at Town Hall Square, Northgate Street, CH1 2HJ. Organised by West Cheshire Trade Union Council.
Colchester: 12.30pm, rally outside Colchester town hall, High Street, CO1 1PJ. Organised by Colchester and Clacton trades union councils.
Dover: noon, rally at St Mary's church hall, Church Street, CT16 1BY. Speakers include Annette Rogers, NUT association secretary; Alan Dennis, PCS NEC.
Exeter: 11am rally at the Corn Exchange, George Street, EX1 1BU. Speakers include: Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC); and Hector Wesley (PCS NEC). March to Belmont Park for a Festival for the Alternative at 12.30pm with music from Billy Bragg, a bouncy castle and children's entertainment, stalls and food and drink available.
Glasgow: noon rally in George Square, Glasgow, G2 1DU. Speakers include: Janice Godrich, PCS president; Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish TUC; Mary Senior, University and College Union (UCU) Scottish secretary; Mike Kirby, Unison Scottish secretary; and Pat Rafferty, Unite regional secretary.
Gloucester: 10.30am, rally at the bandstand in Gloucester Park, Park Road, GL1 1LH.
Halifax: 10am to noon, indoor rally at Arden Road Social Club, HX1 3AG. Speakers include: Linda Riordan, Labour MP; Ian Murch, NUT national treasurer.
Hastings: 10am to noon, rally at White Rock, White Rock, TN34 1JU. Speakers include Andy Reid, PCS NEC; Dave Brinson, NUT NEC. Followed by a picnic in Alexandra Park, St Helen's Road, TN34 2EL.
Huddersfield: noon, rally Market Cross, Market Plave, HD1 2AN. Speakers include Eddie Childs, PCS NEC.
Hull: 10am, rally at Royal Hotel, 170 Ferensway, HU1 3UF.
Ipswich: assemble at 10.45am in Giles Circus, Princes Street, IP1 1DT. March to a rally at town hall council chamber, Cornhill, Ipswich IP1 1DH. Speakers include Lorna Merry, PCS.
Leeds: 11.30am, assemble at Leeds Metropolitan University, Woodhouse Lane, LS1 3HE. March to noon rally in City Square, LS1 2AN. Speakers include Jane Aitchison, president of PCS in the Department of Work and Pensions.
Liverpool: assemble from 11.30am, William Brown Street, L1 1JJ. March to The Black-E arts centre, Great George Street, L1 5EW, for a rally at 12.30pm. Speakers include: Marie Daley, UCU NEC; Julie Lyon-Taylor, NUT NEC; and Alice Robinson, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), national senior vice president.
Llandrindod Wells: 11am, rally at The Pavillion, Spa Road, LLD1 5EY. March to rally and picnic at Landrindod Wells Lake Park, LD1 5LG.
London - central: 11am, assemble at Lincoln Inn Fields, WC2A 3TL. Music provided by Love Music Hate Racism. March to Westminster Central Hall, Storeys Gate, London. SW1H 9NH, for a rally at 1pm. Speakers include union general secretaries - Christine Blower (NUT), Mary Bousted (ATL), Sally Hunt (UCU), and Mark Serwotka (PCS); Dot Gibson of the National Pensioners Convention; and Labour MP John McDonnell. Find out more and download the London rally flyer at the events page.
London Wembley: 10am, rally in The Torch pub, Bridge Road, HA9 9AB, by Wembley Park station.
Luton: noon assemble at Market Hill, LU1 2YN, walk to Town Hall, George Street, LU1 2BQ, for speakers at 12.30pm - including Ian Albert, PCS NEC. In the afternoon there's a picnic in Wardown Park, Old Bedford Road, LU2 7HA.
Maidenhead: 11am to 1pm, rally at The Thames Hotel, Ray Mead Road, SL6 8NR.
Maidstone: noon to 2pm, assemble outside the Walnut Tree, 234 Tonbridge Road, ME16 8SR, for a rally focussing on education.
Maidstone: 4 to 5pm, assemble outside County Hall, County Road, ME14 1XD, for a rally focussing on public sector cuts.
Manchester: assemble from 11am, All Saints, Oxford Road, M1 7DU. March to Castlefield Arena, Liverpool Road, M3 4JN for a rally at noon. Speakers include: Helen Andrews, NUT NEC; Mark Baker, ATL NEC; and Dominique Lauterburg, UCU NEC.
Merthyr Tydfil: 12.30pm, rally at civic centre, Castle Street, CF47 8AN. Speakers include: Peter Harris, PCS Wales secretary; Dominic MacCaskill, Unison; Debbie Scott, NUT; and Jeff Edwards, leader Merthyr council. NEW
Middlesbrough: 4.30pm, rally by the bottle sculpture, Russell Street, TS1 2AE.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Meet at noon at Life Centre, Times Square, NE1 4EP. March to the monument, Grey Street, NE1 7AL, for a rally at 1pm. Speakers from striking unions including Cheryl Gedling, PCS NEC; plus Kevin Rowan, secretary Northern TUC.
Newport (south Wales) : noon, rally at John Frost Square, NP20 1PA. Speakers include: Dave Bean, PCS deputy president; Roy McCabe, UCU; and Angela Davies, NUT.
Norwich: noon, rally outside the Forum, Millennium Plain, Bethel Street, Norwich NR2 1TF.
Nottingham: 11.30am, assemble at Castle Meadow, NG2 1AB, for march to Trinity Square, NG1 4AF. Followed by rally in Albert Hall, North Circus Street, NG1 5AA. Speakers include Paul Williams, PCS NEC.
Oxford: noon, assemble at Town Hall, St Aldate's, OX1 1BX. March to a 2pm rally in Bonn Square, OX1 1EU. With music and a barbecue. Called by the Oxford & District Trades Council.
Peterborough: 10am rally at Laxton Square, PE1 1UQ. Organised by Peterborough TUC.
Peterborough: noon, rally in conjunction with Unison at City Hospital, Bretton Gate, Bretton, PE3 9GZ. Organised by Peterborough TUC.
Plymouth: 11am to 12.30pm , rally organised by ATL, NUT and UCU at Plymouth Albion rugby club, Madden Road, PL1 4NE.
Plymouth: noon, assemble at Guildhall Square, PL1 2AD, for Stop the Cuts' march round town and back to Guildhall, organised by Plymouth TUC.
Portsmouth: noon, rally at Guildhall Square, PO1 2AB. Speakers include: Mike Derbyshire, PCS NEC.
Preston: noon, rally at The Flag Market, PR1 2JA. Speakers include: Kathy Eager, ATL NEC; Simon Jones, NUT NEC; and John Murphy, UCU NEC.
Reading: 11am, rally at Reading International Solidarity Centre, 35 London Street, RG1 4PS. Noon, leafleting at Oracle shopping centre, RG1 2AG.
Rotherham: 11am, rally All Saints Square, S60 1PW.
Sheffield: noon, assemble Peace Gardens, Pinstone Street, S1 2HH. March to rally at Barkers Pool,S1 2JA. Speakers include Marion Lloyd, PCS NEC.
Sittingbourne: 11am, rally at Phoenix House, Central Avenue, ME10 4BX.
Southampton: 11am, rally in Guildhall Square, West Marlands Road, Southampton SO14 7FP. Unite and Unison members who are in dispute with Southampton city council will join the crowd at 12.30pm.
Southend: 12:30pm, Victoria Circus, SS1 1TJ. Organised by Southend Against the Cuts.
Swansea: 12.30pm to 2.30pm, rally at Castle Square, SA1 3PP.
Taunton: 11am, rally at Taunton rugby club, Hyde Lane, TA2 8BU.
Telford: noon, assemble at Southgate, TF2 8JT. March to rally at Cordingley Hall, Wellington Road, Donnington, TF2 8JS. Speakers include Chris Morrison, PCS NEC. Refreshments provided.
Truro: 10am to 1pm, rally at Lemon Quay, TR1 2LW.
Worthing: 11am, rally in Steyne Gardens, Warwick Road, BN11 3DZ. March to Homefield Park, Homefield Road, BN11 2HZ. Speakers include: Adam Kalif, PCS NEC. Supported by Worthing Solidarity Network.
Wrexham: 11.30am, rally at Queens Square, LL14 3EQ.
The above list is not exhaustive. It is very likely that a rally will also be held in your locality, if none of the above is convenient for you. Please check the link below for the latest on events organised near you:
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/campaigns/campaign-events/events.cfm
NECESSARY LEAVE TO LOOK AFTER DEPENDENTS
Some advice in relation to the strikes next Thursday 30 June 2011 on the legal position regarding necessary leave to look after children or other dependents as many employers are trying to “blindside” employees by not telling them about the legal position in relation to time off.
Under S.57A Employment Rights Act 1996 (“ERA 1996”), employees have the right to take unpaid time off work, in certain circumstances, to care for or make arrangements in respect of a ‘dependant’. In order for the right to apply, the employee must:
(a) tell the employer the reason for his or her absence as soon as reasonably practicable; and
(b) if able, to contact the employer before returning to work, giving the employer an estimate of how long the absence will last.
The issue here is whether employees have had sufficient time to make alternate care arrangements. The legal test is whether it was ‘necessary’ and ‘unexpected’, and not as is often wrongly assumed, ‘sudden’ or in an emergency situation.
Therefore it is imperative that any employee who believes that they will have a difficulty in finding alternative care provision for their dependents during next week’s strike, must inform their employer as soon as possible. This will then give them protection from any potential disciplinary action. It should be noted that the right is only for unpaid leave. Companies may offer the choice of taking a day’s holiday instead, but this would be discretionary.
Please do all you can to support public sector workers. A victory for them is a win for a better future for all!
To keep you going until Thursday here is the Jam singing "Kidney machines replaced by rockets and guns"... still so true 31 years later!
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