STOP SALIX CON-TRICKS

We are developing our campaign to stop the transfer of vital, much-needed council housing stock to Salix Homes, where tenants would have less security and there would be no democratic control.  If you want to get involved come to our special meeting on the Salix transfer at 5.30 on Weds. 4th December at the White Swan, Worsley Road, Swinton.

Our regular monthly meeting will be on Monday 16th December at the same venue, 7.00 pm.

In between these meetings on Friday 6th December we have our fund-raising gig at the Crescent pub, from 7.00 onwards.  We have some great bands, rap acts and performance poets - Trojan Horse, The Moods, Class Actions, Markus de Rawkus and many others.  Come along, help us raise cash to campaign with and have a great night!

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER

In October we began to discuss our plans to oppose the sell-off of Salix Homes housing stock and we will firm up our plans in November.

We will update people on the campaign to save the Grange - with Mayor Stewart's claims in tatters and still no announcement about its future.

We will plan for our fund-raising gig at the Crescent on Friday 6th December:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1455358838022927/  
Get it in your diary now!

50 000 MARCH IN MANCHESTER

The first day of the Tory Conference saw 50 000 march in Manchester, with a 2-300 strong contingent from Salford, Bolton and Wigan rally at Bexley Square. 

The new Salford Against Cuts banner was carried on its maiden voyage, thanks to Will and Bob, ex students at Salford Uni, along with the Trades Council and Salford City UNISON banners.  Unfortunately Owen Jones was delayed and unable to speak but we heard fiery speeches from Simon Hickman (FBU), Geoff Atkinson of the victorious bakers' union at Hovis, Stephen Hall on the campaign against fracking, Roy Wilkes of the NUT in Bury and last but not least Sarah Davies, midwife and midwifery lecturer at Salford Uni on the need to save the NHS.

The demo was massive, assisted by better weather than we could reasonably expect, and left the Tories in no doubt that they are meeting increasing resistance from working people - if not yet from the TUC!

We sold 30 copies of our SAC pamphlet 'Cuts Can Be Beaten' - let's show them we mean that!

On 7th October we will discuss the Salix Homes stock transfer, the bedroom tax, and the Grange.  Be there!

MARCH FOR THE NHS!

At last the trade union leaders have got around to organising a national demo for the NHS - better late than never!  March starts 11.00 am from Liverpool Road (near Museum of Science and Industry) on:
SUNDAY, 29th SEPTEMBER
and the march will rally at Whitworth Park.
There will be a rally with Owen Jones speaking, followed by a Salford feeder march to Liverpool Road.  Assemble 10.30 am, Bexley Square.

Other news: we have produced a short pamphlet detailing the successful campaign by mental health service users.  It is called 'Cuts Can Be Beaten! - how mental health service users took on Salford Council - and won' and costs £1 (or £2 solidarity).  All profits to SAC.  Buy from UNISON office in Swinton or contact Paul Gerrard on 07999 951869 or pgerrard2001@yahoo.co.uk.

THE GRANGE / BEDROOM TAX DEMO

The Grange: we had a good protest at the full council on 17th July and campaigners asked questions which didn't get a proper answer - see Salford Star for report http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1879 .  We are pleased that two of the campaigners came to our July meeting on 22nd and we are committed to giving them all the support we can. 

Bedroom Tax Demo: following last Saturday's conference there is now a Greater Manchester Anti Bedroom Tax Federation and it's first act is a march to the courts this Saturday.  Meet at Cathedral Gardens (NOT Piccadilly Gardens - new route) at 1.00 pm, Sat. 27th July.  Bring banners / placards!

DON'T SHUT THE GRANGE!

Support parents and young users of the Grange, as they protest this Wednesday 17th July at the Civic Centre, from 8.30 am.

Salford against Cuts gives them our full support.  Yet again Labour's promises to 'protect the most vulnerable' turn to dust.  John Merry admits 'of course it's unfair!'

See Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1871

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - PARTIAL VICTORY!

At last week's meeting Steve Cullen of USUC announced a partial victory for mental health services campaigners.  The council has acknowledged the need for drop-ins and group sessions, and has made a suitable building available.  This is a tribute to the amazing determination of USUC campaigners, who have left no stone unturned in this battle. 

However, the battle continues - this time it is to prevent the privatisation of the support workers' service.  USUC campaigners have pledged to support UNISON in the keeping the service in-house.

USUC PARTIAL VICTORY

At last week's meeting USUC mental health service users announced a partial victory in their battle to retain drop-ins and group sessions.  The council has acknowledged the need for these services and is making a suitable building available.  This is a tribute to the terrific determination of USUC campaigners. However the battle continues - this time, to prevent the privatisation of the support workers.  USUC campaigners have pledged to support UNISON in this battle.

NO TO THE BEDROOM TAX!

As the first bedroom tax suicide hits the headlines Salford against Cuts plans a major new initiative to inform people of their rights in relation to the bedroom tax and help them fight it - more details soon.

With three active local anti bedroom tax groups in Salford and more in the offing we are supporting the demonstration to be held on Saturday 1st June, 1.00 pm at Piccadilly Gardens.  We call on all to join with us there.

Fight back - together we can defeat this tax!

DON`T PRIVATISE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

 

6pm Tuesday 7th May. Buile Hill Conference Centre.

Buile Hill Park, Eccles Old Road, Salford. M6 8GL

Speakers; Karen Reissmann, Sheila Coleman and Kevin Bennett.

BEDROOM TAX? NO WAY!

The anti bedroom tax movement is getting up steam:

Little Hulton & Walkden had a protest at City West offices on Thursday 25th April - see Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1793. 

City West didn't have any answers for us so we are meeting them again on Wednesday 1st May at their Little Hulton office, 1.00 pm, and we are meeting the evening before Tuesday 30th April at the New Albion, Manchester Road East.

Ordsall had a great first meeting with 60 people present.  They are meeting again in a fortnight to elect a committee and are considering protest at Salix Homes.  See Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1794

Anyone opposed to the bedroom tax is invited to join us on the MAYDAY MARCH from Salford to Manchester on Saturday 4th May (see box on right hand side).  Assemble Bexley Square 10.00 am.  Bring banners and placards!!!

BEDROOM TAX? NO WAY!

The movement against the bedroom tax is steaming ahead:

Little Hulton & Walkden held a protest on Thursday 25th April - see Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1793

City West didn't have any answers for us so we will meet them again on Wednesday 1st May, 1.00 pm at their offices on the Little Hulton precinct, and we meet the night before - Tuesday 30th April, 7.30, at the New Albion on Manchester Road to plan for that.

Ordsall got off to a great start with 60 at their meeting last Thursday, and a decision to meet again in a fortnight and elect a committee, with a view to a protest at Salix Homes.  See Salford Star http://www.salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=1794

EVERYONE WHO'S AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX IS INVITED TO JOIN US ON THE MAYDAY MARCH FROM SALFORD TO MANCHESTER, SATURDAY 4th MAY, ASSEMBLE BEXLEY SQUARE 10.00 am.  BRING BANNERS AND PLACARDS!

MARCH AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX! SAT. 20th APRIL

Join the protest this Saturday, assemble Mocha Parade, Lower Broughton, at 1.00 pm, Saturday 20th April, march into Manchester to join up with the Manchester demo at Albert Square.

Ordsall against the Bedroom Tax meets Royal British Legion, Thursday 25th April, 7.00 pm

Little Hulton anti bedroom protest at City West office, Little Hulton District Centre, Thursday 25th April, 2.00 pm

MEETINGS AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX

Manchester has seen two demonstrations against the bedroom tax in the last month, now it's kicking off in Salford:

BROUGHTON AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX
Monday 8th April, 6.00 pm
Humphrey Booth Centre, Heath Avenue, Broughton

LITTLE HULTON AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX
Tuesday 16th April, 7.30 pm
The Albion, Manchester Road, Little Hulton

Salford against Cuts will be discussing plans for a demo in Salford at its meeting on Monday 15th April, 7.00 pm, White Swan, Worsley Road, Swinton.  Come along and help us plan for it.

AXE THE BEDROOM TAX!

On Saturday 23rd March Salford against Cuts supporters petitioned on Salford Precinct against the Bedroom Tax, while others took to Eccles Town Centre.  Many who signed had just received their notification that day.  Others who signed aren't affected at all but all knew someone who was and they are outraged for their neighbours.  We met these cases:

• One woman who is on benefits will have to find an extra £20 a week as she lives in a 3-bedroom house (allocated to her and her son years ago in an 'unpopular' area) and has two supposedly spare bedrooms since he left home
• another with two children (boy and girl) in separate bedrooms will have to find the extra money until they are both over ten!
• a tower block on the precinct consists of 2 bedroom flats.  No-one has any kids (who can blame them for not wanting to bring up kids in a tower block?) and most are single.  A whole tower block of bedroom tax payers!  We hope to organise a meeting in that tower block in the next fortnight, and have plenty of other names and emails to follow up.

As Alan Metcalfe of SAC put it: 'Bedroom tax a massive issue in Eccles, met many people directly affected, we must get rid of this horrendous piece of legislation !!!' 

Next week (30th March) we petition in Little Hulton, nr. Morrisons, 11.00 - 1.00, another bedroom tax hotspot.

More details soon.

RALLY AGAINST THE BEDROOM TAX

Manchester Piccadilly Gardens 16th March
500 rallied in protest at the hated bedroom tax

From 1st April anyone living in social housing and receiving housing benefit will lose out if they are deemed to have 'spare' bedrooms.

Salford has over 5000 households where this is the case, one of the highest rates in the country.

Salford against Cuts are planning local protests - more details soon.

SAC MEETING CALLS UNITED PROTESTS AND WARNS LABOUR COUNCILLORS:

'FIGHT THE CON-DEMS - OR STAND ASIDE FOR THOSE WHO WILL!'

On 9th February sixty people - service users, council staff and public - heard the case against the cuts.  Cuts to the Youth Service, cuts to the Rangers Service, cuts to opening hours at Ordsall Hall, mental health service cuts, the privatisation of Home Care etc, and more.  We are building a campaign to unite all these battles and will lobby councillors at the Labour group (Monday 25th Feb., 5.00 pm, Civic Centre) and the full council (Wednesday 27th Feb, 8.30 am, Civic Centre - might be postponed, check this site nearer the day).

A statement was agreed unanimously calling on councillors to:

• refuse to implement the Con-Dem cuts
• use reserves and borrowing powers to maintain services
• launch a mass campaign with other Labour councils and the trade unions to win back the £88 million stolen (so far!) from Salford people

..... and if councillors won't stop rubber stamping Con-Dem cuts, then SAC will encourage and support council candidates who will!!

See Salford Star site for more details incl photos of the meeting.

Come to our AGM on Tuesday 19th February - see side-bar for details.

Public Meeting

Saturday 9th February at 11am

Swinton Royal British Legion

Cheetham Road

Manchester, M27 4UQ

(nr. Victoria Park, behind Cricketers' pub)

 

Join the staff, service users, and the public who are joining together to challenge the next rounds of devastating cuts to services in Salford.

 

We are opposing the cuts to Ordsall Hall staffing, the privatisation of Home Care staff, Learning Disability support services, Mental Health groups and drop-ins, and the closure of Day Centres, as well as opposing the withdrawal of services from people with "moderate needs".

 

Speakers from invited campaigns and Salford UNISON

 

 

Mental health services under attack

Mental health service users in Salford, faced with cuts to drop-in and group sessions, have organised themselves into the United Service Users Committee (USUC).

Over recent months they have mounted dozens of campaigns and protests, with the backing of Salford against Cuts:

·         Held joint meetings with Manchester service users who also face cuts

·         Lobbied Mayor Ian Stewart at the Food Fair

·         Protested at councillors’ surgeries and bombarded them with emails

·         Lobbied the Labour Party Conference and challenged Ed Miliband

·         Occupied the Council Chamber in November to demand a meeting with the Mayor

·         Held a protest at the HQ of the NHS Trust

·         Written to GPs throughout Salford

·         Addressed the full council in January

And lots more.  And they haven’t finished yet, they’ll stick at it till they win.  Hats off to USUC, the campaigners who just won’t go away.

Campaigners Rob and Vee were featured on the BBC’s Inside Out North West, broadcast on Monday 21^st January, still available on i-player, starts 11 mins in.

To help or for more info phone Steve Cullen on 07941 400870

Mental health anti cuts campaign

Mental health service users, faced with cuts to drop in and group sessions, have organised themselves as the United Service Users Campaign ()

M

Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 19th February 2012 at 

7-9 pm 

in the White Swan pub on 

Worsley Road, Swinton

 

ALL WELCOME

 

Agenda items to follow.