March 26th 2011 - March for the Alternative

On 26 March 2011, more than 250,000 people joined the TUC march in London, to tell the government that savage spending cuts are unnecessary and unfair.

You can still download the poster for the event. ( pdf file, 868KB)

Branch International Officer, Tony Mullins, has written his reflections on the day

" let me place on record the immense amount of pride I felt at being part of this event and one of the 500,000 unionists who attended."

Read Tony's whole article ( Word doc, 100KB).

Before the march, Tony also wrote in support of the march:

..."Our union leaders are right when they ... point out to this inadequate government that there are other ways of tackling this national and international situation."...

Read Tony's complete article on why this march is important.

And check out the 10 reasons to March in March (thanks to Adele Parry). (06.02.11 updated 27.02.11)

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A view from branch International Officer, Tony Mullins, as to why this march matters

Can I urge all UNISON members to support this peaceful protest on 26th March 2011. In the knowledge that what this coalition is attempting to achieve is going to mean so much hardship to so many members of this union both those we know and those who we care about, but may never meet, the telling word being CARE.

This is of course not only going to affect UNISON members but all working class people throughout the British Isles, whose only need is to work and provide a standard of living for their families. The current situation which I accept exists is not of my making or that of the millions of workers who provide essential front line services to so many dependent individuals and groups.

This situation can and should be placed at the feet of greedy bankers whose only concern is how can we squeeze more out of the gullible public and swell our personal fortunes, while the working class get less and less on a daily basis.

Our union leaders are right when they cite this shameful section of our nation's infrastructure, and point out to this inadequate government that there are other ways of tackling this national and international situation.

We in this country are so fortunate that we live in a democracy and that fact alone means I can write these things in support of (as I see it) my particular concerns and opinions with regards the ConDems response and disastrous actions, which will result in real hardship and misery for so many over the years to come.

This right of protest is so very precious and must at all costs be preserved because its at the heart of democracy, freedom of speech and is what separates us form so many of our union brothers and sisters around the globe.

If I wrote this in Colombia or many other countries it could result in me being visited and subsequently violently removed, never to be seen again. It doesn't take much courage to pen an anti government article in this country, although many are still intimidated and would rather keep their heads down as opposed to standing up to be counted, speaking out for what they believe to be right and just.

That is not the case in many parts of this world, where large multinational conglomerates refuse to recognise Trade Unions and react in archaic ways towards those who attempt to introduce basic Trade Union values and principles; where fundamental rights to safety codes are refused and where individuals and groups are exposed to danger every day they attend their place of work.

As International officer I have access to many articles outlining these travesties and - in the year 2011 - inhumane actions on behalf of those who worship at the altar of PROFIT with no concern for those who are put at risk to make this PROFIT.

On the 26th, WE, the UNISON members, have the opportunity to gather and be part of a voice with so many of our union colleagues affiliated to the TUC, to let Cameron and Clegg know that we are:

"MARCHING IN LONDON TO TELL THE GOVERNMENT THAT SAVAGE SPENDING CUTS ARE UNNECESSARY AND UNFAIR"

Tony Mullins
International Officer

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10 Reasons to March in March

1. Large-scale public sector cuts, have become the accepted wisdom of our age. But this is not wisdom, it is dogma.

2. Irresponsible banks caused the recession NOT the spending of the previous government. The recession caused the "tax-take" to reduce dramatically - it is THIS that caused the deficit.

3. Cutting public spending will not create jobs. Individuals and firms will spend less in the economy, which combined with spending cuts, will have a knock-on effect in the private sector. Cutting public sector jobs will lead to job losses in the private sector.

4. We are not "all in this together". The poorest are being hit the hardest. But taxes from the wealthiest are often uncollected. One example is that job cuts in HM Revenue & Customs have led to serious errors and, which has gone largely unreported, record levels of uncollected tax, too - £26bn in the last year. There is an estimated £70bn lost through tax evasion each year.

5. When governments cut spending, it depresses the economy. And there is no need. Many people do not know that our deficit is lower than many other countries - including France , Germany , Canada and the US .

6. We are growing more unequal as a society, cuts hit the poorest and middle in society much worse than the richest. The attention given to Local Government bosses pay and pensions hides the fact that Local Government employees are poorly paid. Well over 60% of local government employees earn less than £18,000 per year. The average annual wage in Britain is now £26,000 per year. The atmosphere of cuts and job losses is placing a downward pressure on pay and conditions of employment.

7. Eighteen of the 29 members of the Coalition Government Cabinet are millionaires.

8. The VAT rise together with a pay freeze means that public sector workers are effectively suffering a significant PAY CUT.

9. The Government is quietly giving big corporations (including banks) tax breaks. Read this article by George Monbiot in the Guardian newspaper. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/07/tax-city-heist-of-century

10. There ARE PLENTY of alternatives. Public spending will GROW the economy which will increase the tax take and repay the deficit. Collecting unpaid taxes and closing tax loopholes will bring in billions.

Join your colleagues, and thousands of others from across the public sector, from across the country, for the march in London on Saturday 26th March. (09.02.11)

credit: Thanks to the Guardian, the TUC Touchstone blog and Adele Parry for pulling it all together

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