Brighton SolFed were out in force today for the public sector strikes, which saw a huge turnout of perhaps 10,000. Three feeder marches converged on Victoria Gardens in the city centre before marching around town and ending with a rally at the Level. A brief personal report and pictures are below:
Biggest march I've seen in Brighton, I'd guess 5-10,000. Couldn't see the back or the front of the march and it was overflowing the Level where it ended. Cops tried to randomly arrest a bystander and apparently some black bloc types dearrested them.
In Leeds WYSF joined a picket of a public sector building (name omitted to protect the individual member), before joining the march and demo. An estimated 10,000 took part, the biggest demo in Leedsin a long while. SF were joined by AF and quite a few people came up and took papers and expressed support for the Red and Black flags. Lots of support from the public and the march was “clapped” all the way into the city centre.
Plans to have a twenty-four walkout by public sector workers have led to Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude branding the protests as “stupid and wrong”. He also threatened tough new laws to make it harder to strike.
Bristol Solidarity Federation members will be joining and supporting the “Day of Action” from start to finish. We call on workers from all industries to also join the strike. Stop work, refuse to cross picket lines, support the striking workers anyway you can and join the rally from College Green. Join the picket lines that will be going on right up to midnight.
A pub worker and South London SF have together won 6 weeks in stolen wages after a campaign of direct action and threatening pickets of a London pub. Laura was employed by ‘The Hartley’ pub in South London. She was let go after she refused to work because she hadn't been paid for 6 weeks - owed over £700 dating back to mid-September.
Laura got tired of waiting and spoke to South London Solidarity Federation (SLSF). The first step of the campaign was for Laura and members of SLSF to deliver a letter demanding her back-pay on Friday 19th. While waiting for action from the boss, Laura organized a mass phone-in of her employer with her friends and family. The boss was clearly rattled:
"Tell your people to stop calling me. I've got everyone's numbers, I'll report you, I'll report you to....to..... your networks!"
Join Glasgow University Feeder March to student rally Buchanan Street
at 11.30am for STUC March assembling 12.00pm Shuttle Street
(off Albion Street) March at 12.30pm Rally at Barrowlands Ballroom
1.15pm.
11:30 - Assemble at the Pier Head (Derby Square is an alternative for those wanting to take a slightly shorter route or if the weather is bad on the waterfront)
12:00 - March from Pier Head, James Street, Derby Square, Lord Street, North John Street, Victoria Street, Roe Street, Lime Street
1:00 p.m. - Rally at St George's Hall including speakers and music from Ian Prowse (Amsterdam/Pele) and Connie Lush.
Get on the N30 Battle Bus and help support pickets around the city and rally support for the march leaving the Pier Head at 12pm As well as having a soundsystem we will be joined by the Liverpool Socialist Singers!
If you want to join the bus, we will be leaving from the UCU Offices on Oxford Street at 7.45am, and people will be there bannering-up the bus from 7 - and people can join the bus at the different stops.
Sir Ian Blair, ex Commissioner of the Met Police was meant to give a talk at Sussex university last night, but faced disruption from students - see the report below.
