Local union branches and trades councils are getting together for the TUC pensions day of action on Friday 18 February, and preparing for strikes on Wednesday 23 March. What’s happening in your area?
Birmingham
Birmingham Trades Council activists’ meeting. Thursday 3 February, 7.30pm, Council House, Birmingham City Centre. Speakers include Roger McKenzie, TUC Regional Secretary.
Bolton
Friday 18 February: joint union rally on Bolton Town Hall steps between 12 and 1pm.
Cardiff
Friday 18 February: possible protests directed at the Welsh Assembly.
Manchester
Friday 18 February: lunchtime: rally organised by Manchester Trades Council, Town Hall square.
Public sector unions — PCS, Unison in Health and Local Government, possibly teachers — are discussing organising a rally/protest demonstration in Chorlton at lunchtime.
Also, lunchtime rally at the PFI hospital Wythenshawe.
Organising meeting: Thursday 3 February, 7.30pm, Mechanics Institute.
Contact: Caroline Bedale Joint Branch Secretary, Unison Manchester Community and Mental Health. Tel: 0161 203 4702.
Newcastle
Action is being coordinated by Unison, Northern TUC and PCS
Saturday 5 February: petitioning in Newcastle, Carlisle and Middlesbrough. Newcastle: meet 11am, Monument.
Friday 11 February: Hands Off Our Pensions rally. Assemble: 12.30pm, the SAGE, Gateshead — called by Unison health branches.
Labour Party Conference fringe meeting, 6pm, Swallow Hotel, Gateshead.
Speakers: Malcolm Wing, Unison; Mark Serwotka, PCS; Jim Cousins MP.
Saturday 12 February: petitioning in Durham, Darlington, Workington and Sunderland.
Friday 18 February: events around North-East. In Newcastle city centre: pensions pig event, leafleting and petitioning.
Newham
Five local Newham unions — PCS, Unison health and local government, TGWU and ACTSS — are participating in a local activist meeting. Other unions have been contacted.
Friday 18 February: probably two lobbies (one at each end of the borough) and marches from the depots to the lobby points.
Oxford
Friday 18 February: health, education and local government workers have called a lunchtime march and rally. 12.30 assemble: Carfax/Cornmarket. March past local government offices to Gloucester Green.
After: TUC stewards’ training session in Oxford Town Hall on how the different sectors — including education, health, local authority and civil service — are affected and on possible further action. Later a meeting will be sought with former pensions minister Andrew Smith, MP for Oxford East.
Plymouth
Friday 18 February: lunchtime rally organised by local government unions. 12:30pm, Plymouth Civic Centre.
Southampton
Southampton Trades Council has decided to organise a meeting on pensions during the week beginning 14 February with union and National Pensioners Convention speakers.
Tower Hamlets
p>Friday 18 February: local rally with Tony Benn planned.
- Thanks to the Unison United Left for providing most of the information.