Why we're marching on 20 October

NSSN march to lobby of TUC, Brighton, 9.9.12, photo Sarah Mayo (Click to enlarge)

The plebs are revolting on 20 October - that is how the millionaire government will see it. You could write their press releases in advance: 'the protest is pointless, we will not change our policy.'

For us it is not pointless. It is a matter of life and death. The many proposed NHS cuts indicate this.

The Tories plan to replace the 28 cancer networks and 28 combined heart and stroke networks with 12 of each.

The 700 staff working for the 56 networks will be cut drastically, some estimate they will go down to fewer than 100.

Obviously they will be able to do far less to promote take-up of new forms of surgery and help patients throughout their treatment and recovery. People will die.

And for the rich? Well they can still buy their way to the head of the queue so who cares?

Come out on 20 October to answer that question.

Derek McMillan, Brighton Socialist Party

I look forward to hearing the clank of the letterbox on the arrival of my copy of Network, our union Usdaw's magazine.

I am unfortunately unable to participate actively and so Network is my link to the union.

Evidence documenting the attacks on our members by this vicious Con-Dem coalition is clearly shown. JJB Sports job cuts, attacks on employment tribunals, pensions, etc, etc.

The magazine is full of the campaign to raise awareness of violence against our members, first introduced by the health and safety executive and is commendable.

However, where is the union's support for the TUC-led campaign against poverty and austerity?

It is a disgrace that only ten words, hidden in the interview of TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady, give publicity to the demonstrations in London, Glasgow and Belfast on 20 October.

Usdaw general secretary John Hannett should hang his head in shame at this omission which creates a split between shop workers and other trade unionists in the private and public sector unions.

Robbie Segal

I am a registered blind person who is also the full-time 'informal' carer of a person with a severe mental illness and I am in the process of being assessed for Employment and Support Allowance.

I filled in the Work Capability Assessment questionnaire two weeks ago so I am feeling rather insecure at the moment, wondering what the outcome will be and what decision will be made.

The form did not ask any specific questions about sight loss. If I had not taken advice from the RNIB, a charity for visually impaired people, I would not have known how best to fill it in.

At the start of the Tory Party conference we are once again hearing Osborne call for more welfare cuts - so once again, no doubt, the disabled and unemployed will be vilified in the right-wing media as work-shy scroungers!

As I mentioned, I am also a full-time carer. Even though I am saving the government approximately £1,300 a week, this is not classed as a job.

It was not taken into account during my assessment even though any decision taken about me will have a profound effect on the person I care for, not to mention the stress they will face when their time comes to be scrutinised!

I am also dealing with the slow deterioration of the little sight that I have. Last year when I was given training to use a white cane this was cut short due to the trainer being on a temporary contract that was not renewed.

Despite all this, I and other disabled people am to be used as scapegoats for this crisis of capitalism while the millionaire friends of the Con-Dems walk away scot-free!

This is why, hopefully, I shall be going on the march on 20 October and I urge other disabled people to do the same. The TUC need to make this event as accessible as possible to enable this to happen as disabled people will NOT sit in the dark and allow themselves to be bullied by this vile coalition any longer!