Manchester
Greater Manchester Trades Council called a demonstration against austerity and Osborne’s autumn statement.
Steve North of Salford Unison, first up at the post-march rally, set the tone by announcing that his branch had passed a resolution calling on the TUC to organise a one-day general strike. He called for the TUC to act on it.
Steve was followed by Ian Hodson, national president of the Bakers Union, who said, to stormy applause, “we don’t need a ballot, we just need the TUC to name the day”.
Earlier 200 activists had heard Alex Davidson, former TUSC candidate in the Manchester Central by-election, urge support for Egyptian socialists and condemnation of the repression organised by the Muslim Brotherhood. SP members gave out leaflets with the CWI statement.
Paul Gerrard
Newcastle
A recent protest against library closures in Newcastle very soon turned into a protest against the Labour council’s cuts budget and for a ‘needs budget’. Protesters marched through Newcastle chanting “Labour council get off your knees, set a budget for all our needs!”
The protest then went on to occupy the Newcastle City council chamber where marchers held their own council meeting passing motions against every single cut.
Councillors who happened to be present were claiming that they were not the real enemy. Protesters correctly pointed out they were doing the Tories’ dirty work.
As the council was only discussing the cuts and not voting on them we then decided to leave. This was the first demo of its kind in Newcastle and it’s only going to escalate.
