A more radical approach is required from Labour

On 26 March last year over half a million people marched in London in support of an alternative to austerity in what Jeremy Corbyn MP calls a 'remarkable demonstration of trade union and labour movement unity.'
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/117570

The Non March for No Alternative

From a UNISONActive reader: You had a brief mention of the Tax Dodgers Alliance et al's rally for the Creation of Public Squalor (or whatever they called it) on Saturday.

New Era begins for UNISON - report of NEC 13 April 2011

We christened the new UNISON building today with a National Executive Council, held days before the formal move of the staff from Mabledon Place. President Angela Lynes described it as "a stunning new centre for our organisation and one which will hopefully last for generations to come". An ambitious but financially prudent move, the new centre is already a landmark in the capital and a credit to everyone involved. http://www.unison.org.uk/news/news_view.asp?did=6762

Undercover Police and 26 March TUC Demonstration

Caught in the act….
See more photos at http://www.flickr.com/groups/26march/

We fight on until NHS Bill is in the gutter - Dave Prentis

UNISON's General Secretary received a standing ovation from delegates at the heath service group conference this morning. In a passionate defence of the NHS and the UNISON members who deliver health care, Dave Prentis said that UNISON would not settle for delays or minor amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill, 'we will fight every step of the way until this Bill is left lying in the gutter'.

UNISON Active Analysis - It's time to go on the offensive

Saturday 26 March 2011 was a momentous day with estimates ranging from quarter to a half a million people taking to the streets of London to protest against this Government's austerity measures. The TUC March for an Alternative exceeded anticipation and expectation.

The long march against the cuts

Heather Wakefield, UNISON’s head of local government, writing for the Public Finance blog, reviews Saturday’s mammoth demonstration in London: ‘Carnival-like marches might win the short-term psychological battle, but they won’t win the political war. For sure, they keep spirits high, build solidarity and remind us that there are millions out there who want an end to Coalition cuts, but alone they are not enough. There is much more to do.’

Dave Prentis speech at 26 March Hyde Park rally

For those who missed it - the powerful call to action of UNISON's General Secretary on video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhKhkkXAIok "Today is one day. Today is a magnificent day. Tomorrow we march on."

What happens next?

Looking beyond yesterday's succesful national mobilisation, campaigner Amanda Tattersall writes on the Stronger Unions blog about the importance of unions building strong and sustained coalitions for political change. Several case studies of succesful campaigns are mentioned notably the 2005-7 “Your Rights at Work” campaign for union rights in Australia where local struggles were merged into a unified national campaign - in which unions spoke with one voice:  http://www.strongerunions.org/2011/03/24/what-happens-after-the-rally-four-ideas-for-strengthening-the-campaign-against-the-cuts/

We can achieve anything acting together

We can achieve anything if we act together like this, said one marcher today as hundreds of thousands march through London. Here we report on the march at Piccadilly, with the huge UNISON contingent still passing after at least an hour.

We are the resistance - failure is not an option

‘This is what resistance looks like, hundreds of thousands of workers coming together to protest. We shall resist. We are the resistance – all of those who stand up for social justice and trade union rights – this is our time and failure is not an option. Our time has come’ said Fred Redmond, International Vice President of the 850,000 strong United Steelworkers union, speaking on events in Wisconsin at a well attended meeting in London on Thursday.

Our March by Vladimir Mayakovsky

Beat the tramp of revolt in the square! Up, row of proud heads!
We will wash every city in the world
With the surging waters
of a second Flood.

Sea of purple and green to snake through London on Saturday

See a great preview of Saturday's major march for the alternative at http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2235

Here’s Why We Are Marching - Budget 2011

Don’t believe stories that Tories never lie to themselves. Headlines in the Daily Mail that the budget was a “tax give away “or in other papers that cuts in fuel duty were a “surprise” tell more about the fact that people are waking up to the level of devastation that this government is carrying out than anything else .

New branch banner for 26 March - send us yours

UNISON South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust branch will unveil their new branch banner at the TUC Demonstration in London on 26 March. The banner was created by famous London trade union banner maker Ed Hall and designed by UNISON's Michalel Walker. The colours are UNISON's purple, green and white which in turn are based on the WSPU suffragette colours. (chosen in 1908 by Emmeline Pethick Lawrence).

On 26 March the real 'Big Society' will assemble - Chris Tansley

Chris Tansley, UNISON Vice President and child care social worker in Nottinghamshire County Council, writing on the Community Care website, responds to Bank of England Governor Mervyn King's self fulfilling prophesy that reaction to Government cuts is surprisingly muted:
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-work-front-line-focus/2011/03/join-us-on-26-march-to-stop-the-cuts.html

Conservative Government. Unemployment? Figures.

So wrote Roger McGough in a pithy poem crafted during the Thatcher era. It resonates today when the UK's official unemployment figure hits a 17 year high at 2.53 million. Same as it ever was.
http://www.unison.org.uk/asppresspack/pressrelease_view.asp?id=2223

I of W blood collection team show support for 26 March

UNISON Reps from across the South east including Isle of Wight handed in a letter to the TUC Trades Union Congress in London urging them to join the campaign to oppose the threat to privatise the NHS Blood Service and pledging support for the TUC demonstration in London on Saturday 26th March

TUC phoney war is over - Brendan Barber

TUC General Secretary gives a hard hitting interview in the Guardian, as unions countdown to the massive mobilisation planned or London in 11 days time:

The Governor Tells The Truth - Banks Are To Blame - But We Take The Pain

Finally the truth is out and straight out of the horses mouth, the Bank of England Governor Mervyn King... the man meant to be in charge of the UK economy! "The price of this financial crisis is being borne by people who absolutely did not cause it, now is the period when the cost is being paid, I'm surprised that the degree of public anger has not been greater than it has."