Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs protesting over zero hour contracts

Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs protesting over zero hour contracts   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Leeds YFJ anti-austerity protest

After only being online for a day, over 2,000 people have indicated they will attend an anti-austerity protest organised by Leeds Youth Fight for Jobs (YFJ) on the day of the state opening of parliament. The facebook event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/events/807414962676055/

The protest will take place in Victoria Gardens outside Leeds Art Gallery at 5pm on Wednesday 27th May. The protest will hear from young workers, NHS campaigners, anti-bedroom tax activists and trade unionists amongst others on the savage plans to attack working class people that the new Tory government is announcing.

Tanis Belsham-Wray, Leeds YFJ convenor and former zero-hour contract worker commented:
“As someone who has been on a minimum wage zero-hour contract in the catering industry, I know how insecure and precarious they are. Zero-hour contracts are exploitative by their very nature, they rely on people being forced into them due to benefit sanctions, student debt or the cost of childcare. These are the very things the incoming government wish to do, and it is vital that opposition to them is mobilised.”

Iain Dalton, Yorkshire YFJ organiser said:
“We want to bring together young people, trade unions and community groups to demonstrate our rejection of the agenda of austerity – of making the poorest in society pay to finance luxury at the top. With £120 billion uncollected and evaded in tax each year, PFI hospitals costing us £60 billion more than they are actually worth, amongst other figures, it’s clear there is money to invest in jobs, homes and public services.”

For more info contact Iain Dalton on 07809839793, e-mail [email protected] or Tanis Belsham-Wray on 07715873005