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SERTUC marched with hope and determination at the ‘People’s Assembly Against Austerity’ Demonstration in London, 20 June

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Frances O’Grady, TUC general Secretary, said, in advance of the demonstration 20 June; “The TUC is proud to send greetings, solidarity and support to this timely People’s Assembly demonstration. Ordinary people are joining together in their thousands to send a clear message to the new government: no more brutal austerity, senseless cuts and ideological privatisations.  That’s why trade unions will continue to fight for a real alternative based on investment, public ownership and strong rights for working people. Together we can build a fairer, more equal, more hopeful country.”

The march through the heart of London on Saturday 20 June, from the Bank of England to Parliament Square, was a great success. The tone was positive and dynamic. The march was peaceful, with many families marching, and a high proportion of participants were young and/or female. There were rallies at Bank and in Parliament Square. Those rallies, the speakers, the march and its themes achieved reasonable media coverage, compared to the last two TUC national marches. Media reports estimated the attendance at 250,000 people participating at some point in the day!

People, community campaigns and unions often focussed on their own core issue, but the central theme and unifying message was, ‘End Austerity Now. Austerity is self-defeating. There is a better and fairer way forwards. We will organise and fight for our future’

The new government did win a Parliamentary majority but a minority of adults eligible to register to vote actually voted for it, (approximately 21.6 per cent), and it is our task to fix in the public consciousness that what it proposes to do it does not do in the majority’s name. And opposition to the government’s austerity programme will be constant and vigorous, at local, regional and national level.

Unions were well represented in the demonstration and individual demonstrators had made their own placards with ‘Hands Off Our Unions’ messages etc.

There was also a rally in Glasgow, at which SERTUC was represented.

The People’s Assembly has thanked all those that organised coaches, mobilised, volunteered, spoke, stewarded, donated and protested.

The next steps:

Protest Against Osborne's Emergency Budget: National Day of Action, 8th July, 2015

Osborne plans £12 billion in cuts to welfare and a fresh round of austerity measures. The People’s Assembly Against Austerity has called for a day of action, with rallies, strikes, creative stunts and events all across the country.

London:                 Parliament Square, 5.30pm, 8 July 2015

Oxford:                  Carfax Tower, 6pm, 8 July 2015

Southampton:      Civic Centre, 5.30pm, 8 July 2015                   

Demonstrate at the Tory Party Conference, 4-8th October 2015, Manchester
A week of national protests and action at the Tory party conference.

#EndAusterityNow

https://www.facebook.com/events/645472598887577/

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/


People Assembly  Austerity doesn't work

Stop Union Busting  SERTUC

Hands off our unions Havering

Posters  SERTUC

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