Austerity job losses - bad for all but worse for some

In order to divert attention from the public sector jobs carnage caused by its austerity policies, the Conservative Party claims that ‘there are now two million more private sector jobs than there were in 2010’. A useful briefing by the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI) examines Tory claims that that cuts to public sector employment facilitate private sector job creation and help to ‘rebalance’ the UK’s economy. It finds that ‘since 2008 job cuts in the public sector have fallen disproportionately on the regions and devolved nations outside of London. As a result of this, London and the South East have increased their share of public sector jobs as a proportion of the national total. Interestingly, however, London has also been the region with the fastest rate of private sector job growth in this period’
http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Brief10-public-sector-employment-across-UK-since-financial-crisis.pdf
http://speri.dept.shef.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Brief10-public-sector-employment-across-UK-since-financial-crisis.pdf

A Global Day of Rage for Gaza

More than 150,000 people marched from the BBC studios in Portland Place, past the US embassy in Grosvenor Square to Hyde Park, in a protest called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other organisations. It was the third mass march through London in support of Gaza in three weeks. It was also the biggest, and formed part of a global Day of Rage, with people marching in cities across the globe to show solidarity with Gaza under attack:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/biggest-london-rally-yet-gaza/

Thousands march against racism & fascism in Cardiff, Glasgow & London

Marches and rallies were held in Cardiff, Glasgow and London yesterday to mark United Nations Anti-Racism Day. In London a large and noisy march snaked through Whitehall from Westminster to a rally in Trafalgar Square where Diane Abbot MP stated "the objective is to say to politicians in all parties that we're tired of this anti-immigrant political narrative"
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/03/22/diane-abbott-ukip-appealing-to-racism_n_5013549.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-politics&ir=UK+Politics

Glasgow rally

'Glasgow Girls' Emma Clifford and Amal Mally Azzudin address the Glasgow rally

A sea of purple across the land

Hundreds of thousands hit the streets of London, Glasgow and Belfast yesterday to fight back against austerity. Marching for 'A Future That Works' and a 'Better Fairer Way'. In London the front of the rally was at Hyde Park before the end had left the Victora Embankment. The same in Glasgow where people were still in George Square when the GMB pipe band at the front was entering Glasgow Green.
..The Mirror follows the London March in words and pictures at http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/a-future-that-works-live-blog-from-tuc-1388672   The UNISON story is at http://www.unison.org.uk/20102012/  and http://www.unison-scotland.org.uk/oct20/

Mobilise for 20 October in London

#oct20 The TUC website ‘A future that works’ has been updated with promotional artwork and arrangements for the national demonstration on 20 October. As on 26 March last year, the march will assemble along Victoria Embankment on the Thames from 11AM moving off around noon. http://afuturethatworks.org/

'A Future That Works' - mass TUC demonstration in London on 20 October

#oct20 The TUC is to organise a mass demonstration in London under the banner of 'A Future That Works' on Saturday 20 October 2012. A march through central London will culminate in a rally in Hyde Park.
On March 26 2010 the TUC's March for the Alternative attracted 500,000 people to a march and rally in London.

Loadsamoney City barbarians attack transport workers

Those that damage millions through reckless speculation condemn the transport workers of London when claiming that “City workers are set to face an unprecedented week of continuous travel after London Underground employees announced they would go to work like normal people”. We thought they came to work in Porsches?  http://squaremile.com/speakeasy/10575/London-Underground-Announces-Day-Of-Work.html

999 plc

It was reported yesterday that from June London Fire Brigade will outsource its emergency call handling service to Capita in a 10 year contract awarded by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority – this unprecedented move is likely to be emulated other fire services and police forces squeezed by austerity measures: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4b37c0f6-71c6-11e1-8497-00144feab49a.html

London UNISON Regional Council AGM

UNISON London Region's existing leadership team, led by Convenor Gloria Hanson, saw off an attempt by the SWP and its sympathisers to take over at yesterday's Regional Council AGM. This is the seventh victory in a row for London grass root union activists who soundly defeated the challengers at the ballot box.

RMT victimisation cases prove that union stewards need better protection

‘One of the first duties of any trade union is to protect its lay officials from perceived victimisation, dismissal and the loss of their livelihood’ writes Professor Keith Ewing, as he assesses the importance of the RMT’s success in securing the reinstatement of two victimised shop stewards employed on the London Underground: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/content/view/full/106401

Tories attempt to attack London Fire Service by sacking all crews.

Expect Tories to show their real colours on Thursday when the Tory controlled London Fire Authority is intending to sack all London fire fighters. This will be accompanied by re-engagement on new terms and conditions.