Support the Unions on the 30th June - Support Salford Against the Cuts

Most of you will already be aware that teaching unions ATL and NUT, as well as Civil Service Union PCS and University and College Union UCU will be taking strike action on Thursday 30th June. Those unions will be striking not only against attacks on public sector pensions, but attacks on all public services. Salford Against the Cuts supports their action and is encouraging everybody to do the same.

There are two key ways you can do this:

1. Picket Lines

Visit your local school, college, university, court, tax office or job centre in the morning and say hello to those on the picket lines. Trade Unions are an important part of the anti-cuts movement and they have the strength to make the Government listen. The action they take on 30th June is for all of us fighting against cuts, whether they be to jobs or services. If you're not sure where to go maybe come down to Salford Magistrates Court where we know the Salford City UNISON banner will be between 8 and 9am.

2. Strike Rally

The main strike rally for Greater Manchester will begin at 11:30am at All Saints Park, Oxford Road, Manchester. There will be a march of the workers on strike and many supporters. After the march there will be a rally with various speakers. The bigger the march and rally the bigger the coverage in the papers and on the news. If you can make it along please do so.

For more information see the www.j30strike.org website.

SAC Supports Striking Workers

On 30th June, teachers and civil servants look set to strike against attacks on their pensions, job cuts and attacks on services. Salford Against the Cuts supports their action and is encouraging everybody opposed to cuts to stand with these workers.

What does defending pensions have to do with fighting cuts?

The media can present a narrow view of public sector workers striking to defend final salary pension schemes that most private sector workers no longer enjoy. The wider public might ask, why – when cuts to public services are taking place – are these workers disrupting the services they provide to defend something that only affects them?

This action is about more than pensions. It is about all attacks on working people and in our view there is nothing wrong with workers taking action to defend pensions as part of that struggle. One of the most important things we have had to fight for in the past was the right to a decent retirement and that is now under attack. The average pension to a civil servant last year was £7000 – compare that to the pension of Fred “The Shred” Goodwin who, after insisting that the tax-payer bail-out Royal Bank of Scotland retired on a pension of £342,500 a year.

Why support strike action?

The principle weapon working people have against attacks on our standards of living is our collective strength and, ultimately the ability to withdraw our labour. Everyday we go to work and our labour generates profits for private companies, or – in the case of the public sector – we ensure that vital services are made available to those who need them. When we stop working we remind the employer and the Government that they need us and therefore need to listen to us. We don’t do it lightly (workers don’t get paid when they’re on strike), but sometimes it’s the only thing that works.

Workers must stand with service users and community campaigners when services are threatened (whether or not those workers are threatened). Equally, we should all stand by workers who have been forced into striking to defend what they hold dear – the right to a decent retirement that is not plagued by poverty.

We encourage all supporters of SAC to get down to your local school or civil service picket line on the 30th. Striking is not much fun and the pickets will be glad to see you.

On the evening of the 30th, Salford Against the Cuts, along with Salford TUC will be holding a post-strike rally at Saffron Restaurant on Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester from 7pm. We will have speakers from the different unions and at 8pm we will be serving excellent Saffron food at a price of £8 for those who are unwaged, or have been striking that day and £15 for everybody else. After the meal after-dinner entertainment will be provided by Mississippi Soulman, Malcolm McBride – www.mississippisoulman.com.
All proceeds will be split between Salford Against the Cuts and Street Meet, a charity run by Saffron owner Adeeb, which provides food and support for homeless people in Manchester and Salford.
Hope to see you there.

NEWSLETTER June 2011 (No. 2)

Here is the second issue of our newsletter.  If you would like copies to distribute to friends, at work, church or in the pub call 07817434240, email salfordagainstcuts@gmail.com or print copies yourself (click on each page and select Print...). If you would like to contribute something for next month's issue send before Monday 27th June by email or to 1 Lynwood Avenue, Eccles, M300UH.

Benefit Concert -- 27 May at Islington Mill

The inaugural Salford Against the Cuts gig took place last Friday and by all accounts lived up to the promise of the eclectic line-up and hard work already put in by all involved to make it happen.

Irma Vep played a tight blend of crunching guitars and catchy vocals and were well received by the steadily filling room. 

Horses, a two piece with a similar vibe to the White Stripes and vocals that sounded akin to the Kings of Leon amongst others were next up and blasted through quick songs at breakneck pace.

 

Class Actions showcased the night’s diversity in its best fashion, with their politically charged themes and a display embodied by passion for the words they rhymed; it showed Class Actions to be a prime example of the platform this gig was trying to create.

Death to the Strange

Death to the Strange are already making big noises on the North West music scene and from this display it is easy to see why. Their brand of Brit-pop is reminiscent of a bygone era but there sounds are no nostalgic trip into the 1990’s. Death to the Stranges sound is just as vital and current as their earlier contemporaries. For 30 minutes they captivated all in attendance and left the stage to rapturous applause.

 

Trojan Horse

Bringing the night to its final culmination was Trojan Horse whose arrival upon the stage belied their namesake. They came with a reputation and boy did they live up to it. It is hard to make any comparisons as they play in a style and with a sound that’s unmistakably unique and only heard in their progressive rock songs. Think Isis meets Glassjaw with a diversion into the Smashing Pumpkins and you may get something that slightly resembles the band being championed as the ones to watch in the alternative music scene. Heads were nodding in appreciation as the boys ripped through a set that was as energetic and confident in its performance as the quality of the songs they were playing. 

The night was a huge success and the 100 plus in attendance helped raise over £500 for the cause with many staying and dancing well into the early hours at the hugely accommodating Islington Mill. Salford Against the Cuts would like to say a big thank you to all of the bands who played, all the people who came to watch and everyone who helped make the night so enjoyable.  We’ll see you at the next one!

Benefit Concert -- TONIGHT!

For more information or to help publicise this event please
see http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175750615808952
call 07817434240 or email salfordagainstcuts@gmail.com

Keep Salford A Fit City - Save Broughton Rec

Salford City Council has declared the Broughton Rec is no longer financially viable. Broughton Rec is on Camp Street, Lower Broughton, Salford. It could be facing closure at the end of this year. Broughton Against the Cuts is campaigning to keep the Rec under public control. It is a vital community resource and has a massively positive effect on the lives of many local people.

A community resource

Broughton Recreation Centre is currently under the control of Salford Community Leisure, a subsidiary of Salford City Council. Membership is cheap (£25 per month, unlimited access). With this membership, you can use any of the facilities at any leisure centre in Salford. Broughton Rec provides an essential place for all Salfordians to participate in loads of different activities. Martial Arts, Boxing, a Church, OAP clubs, kids clubs, hockey, squash, a computer skills learning centre, aerobics, a fully equipped gym, etc... It is a busy place, packed every evening with people from all walks of life having fun, and hanging out with friends.

The “Temple” under threat

The climbing hall is housed in Broughton Recreation Centre. an oasis of good vibes, making new friends and meeting new climbing partners is very easy. The Wall (aka The Temple) was masterfully created in 1991, using concrete and natural, by Bendcrete. Since then it has served many, many climbers of all levels and abilities. To its users, it is the best (indoor) crag in the country. It even has its own downloadable guidebook, with hundreds of classic problems and traverses. The climbing itself is amazing. Anyone in need of a perfect training venue for the nearby walls of Yorkshire and Peak limestone need look no further.

Check out the Broughton Power website and see just how amazing the wall really is. Better still, come to the wall and climb on it.

Stop the Closure

It was recently announced by Salford Community Leisure, that, due to government cuts in public spending, the centre will close in December 2011.

The Council is saying that they wish the centre to be run by sports group or the voluntary sector. Even if possible this is extremely dangerous as, if the enterprise fails, Salford Council will say they have a non-sustaining and unaffordable centre, either selling to a property developer or close the building.

We have already launched a campaign to keep the Centre and The Temple, under council control. This campaign can not only save the building but through your support it receives investment and continues to flourish. It continues to be a vital part of the Broughton community, a place of employment and climbers conitinue to go there and get strong.

We can win

In February this year, Manchester City Council announced that Levenshulme Swimming Baths was due for closure. After a successful three week campaign by users and locals, the decision was overturned. The swimming baths is still open and is receiving inward investment for improvements. So it is possible. For more information and to join The Broughton Against the Cuts campaign, text 0754542 5742, email broughtonagainstcuts@gmail.com, or become a member of our Facebook groups

What can you do:

Please support the campaign and email your protest of the council's declaration to the following individuals who will be responsible for making a final decision about our Rec.

Exec of Salford Community Leisure, STEVE HASSALL:  steve.hassall@scll.co.uk
Exec of Salford City Council:  BARBARA SPICER:  barbara.spicer@salford.gov.uk
Labour Councillor JOHN MERRY:  councillor.merry@salford.gov.uk
Labour Councillor CHARLIE MCINTYRE: councillor.mcintyre@salford.gov.uk

Or write to:
The Chief Exec, Salford City Council, Civic Centre, Swinton, Salford M27 5FJ

Security at Islington Flats

On 2^nd March Salford Council passed a budget which involved £40 million cuts to services. Since then many staff have left council employment but it isn’t always clear where the cuts are falling.

However, Salford Against the Cuts has unearthed yet another cut to frontline services. The residents of the tower blocks in Islington - Arthur Millwood Court and Canon Hussey Court - have revealed that the hours of their security guards are to be cut by half and instead of 24 hr cover there will be a security presence only between 12 noon and 12 midnight. 

Residents who have lived there for a good while have pointed out that in the 1970s the blocks were ‘mad places’ until the residents themselves agreed to pay extra for full-time security cover. One resident, speaking to SAC Community Officer and Ordsall Against the Cuts Organiser George Tapp, described anti-social noise, fights, break-ins, dog fights and fires in unoccupied flats. He feared that if the guards were removed it would go back to how it was.

Salford Against the Cuts will be organising with residents, tenants committees and unions to ensure the guards can continue to provide full 24 hour cover in the flats.