Chelmsford Against The Cuts

STARTING 2012 IN GREAT STYLE

Malcolm Wallace — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 10:07:32 +0000

ANOTHER PHASE FOR OUR CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CUTS

Chelmsford Against The Cuts (CATC) was established following a public meeting organised by Chelmsford TUC in 2010. Since then CATC has been campaigning virtually every Saturday in Chelmsford High Street. Thanks to a number of our affiliated branches, and Unison regional office, it has published over 15 leaflets which have been distributed in the High Street, at workplaces, colleges, the university and several housing estates. Working with the Chelmsford TUC CATC has held a number of public meetings and an Essex-wide demonstration in Chelmsford; furthermore, hundreds of people have signed our petitions against the cuts.

One of the leaflets was designed to encourage members to join an appropriate union or, if they were already a member, to get engaged in branch activity. We also held special trade union days when we focussed on the cuts envisaged for the postal services, transport, education and local government.

CATC is keen to engage as many trade unionists as possible in our work and with this in mind we would like to come and talk to your colleagues at a branch meeting where they can tell you about our activities and seek your views on the best way to move forward.

If you would be willing to invite a speaker to attend a branch meeting please contact one of those below direct.

Andrew Coburn Email acoburn@blueyonder.co.uk Tel. 01245 356210

Stephen Collins Email stephen.collins573@btinternet.com Tel. 077921 32915

John Whitfield Tel. 07812348845

30th November 2011

Malcolm Wallace — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:39:01 +0000

30th November 2011. Another great day and an excellent turn out. Trade unionists, anti-cuts supporters, pensioners and many individuals who wanted to express their anger against the Government’s cuts. Our campaign will continue, we are certainly not going away.

30 June 2011

Malcolm Wallace — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:34:57 +0000

30 June – Action Day and what a fantastic day it was! Approximately 400 people marched through Chelmsford to the Baptist Church where they heard ten speakers from the teaching unions, PCS and our Chairman, Andrew Coburn. Before that Chelmsford Against The Cuts, with more supporters helping than ever before, issued a new leaflet to promote the march and demonstration.

There were PCS pickets outside the Shire Hall and the Job Centre who were rewarded for their efforts with some excellent cakes donated by local UK UNCUT supporters. This was complemented with Fairtrade tea and coffee from Thompsons Solicitors whose staff then joined the march.

Chelmsford Against The Cuts thanks everyone for making the day such a success.

THANK YOU TSSA ANGLIA 1

Malcolm Wallace — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:43:19 +0000

We have thanked all those that have sent donations to our campaign but members of the TSSA Anglia 1 branch took a collection at their last meeting and decided to place a link to this site from the Morning Star’s website. Thanks for the publicity.

LIAR, LIAR

Malcolm Wallace — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 08:13:38 +0000

This record is excellent. Have a look at it and buy it for your ipod from iTunes for 79p. Go to http://tinyurl.com/26npqsd

In the same theme of Liar, Liar, Chelmsford Against The Cuts activist and Executive Member of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, Colin Farquhar, has just made this video exposing the lies of Boris Johnson. This has to be a first for the TSSA. See it on http://www.youtube.com/user/ecmember?email=share_video_user

1.7 million more people Con-Demned to Poverty

Malcolm Wallace — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:40:25 +0000

The government’s cuts programme will place 1.7 million more people into destitution and lead to the first rise in absolute poverty for more than a decade.

That is the prediction of the highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies which, in a recent report, said that the severe cuts to welfare benefits and the rise in VAT will increase absolute poverty by 900,000, and relative poverty by 800,000 over the next three years. Cuts to housing benefits alone will push 100,000 children into destitution. The government said it is committed to reducing relative child poverty by 10% by 2020. Its actions make it look like it is another lie.

Essex County Council Under Pressure

Malcolm Wallace — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:14:44 +0000

Over 150 people expressed their opposition to the cuts to our social and welfare services that are being planned by Essex County Council. The event took place on 14 December from 8am to 10am at County Hall just before the Council met to decide policy. Most of those at the demonstration had never taken part in an activity such as this before. Amongst the demonstrators were Connexions staff facing redundancy and students, trade unionists and members of the public. When the demonstration concluded many attended the Council meeting.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SOUTHEND STOP THE CUTS

Malcolm Wallace — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:36:55 +0000

Congratulations to Southend Against the Cuts for staging an impressive demonstration in the centre of the town on Sunday 12 December 2010. Eight of us travelled from Chelmsford to support Southend’s march and rally. It was great to see so many trade union banners and the speakers were excellent. What an example to us all, what an inspiration to build the resistance against the cuts.

LIES ABOUT DEBT

Malcolm Wallace — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:29:42 +0000

Government policy is based on the claim that our national debt is at an unprecedented level, and that we must suffer massive cuts to reduce it. That is just not true!

The cuts strategy is based around the same assertion made by Gordon Brown that to ensure “economic prudence” Britain should only borrow 39% of gross domestic product (GDP). After Gordon Brown propped up his friends in the City with our hard-earned taxes it took the nation’s borrowing requirement to 70% of GDP. But, the fact is, from 1918 to 1961 we generally had 100% borrowing of GDP. For a period after the 2nd World War it went up to 250%! Despite this, the Atlee Government developed our welfare state and nationalised many of our major industries. Life for working people was changed for the better.

Like former Tory Government’s the Lib-Dem Coalition is rolling back all the gains we have made over the years and is intent on making us bail out the bankers and those in the City that got us into the mess we are in. The cuts are a political choice, not one borne out of necessity. There are alternatives and these have been detailed by several trade unions and the TUC.

FIGHTING THE CUTS

Malcolm Wallace — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 07:07:34 +0000

AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED.

CHELMSFORD TUC presents Banner Theatre’s 1st OF MAY BAND, Fighting the Cuts. A cabaret of resistance featuring music, video, comedy and song. Christ Church, New London Road, Chelmsford at 7pm. 26 February 2011. Tickets are £5 with Fairtrade refreshments after the performance at 8.30pm. Car parking facilities are available. The event is sponsored by Thompsons Solicitors and Unison Mid Essex Hospitals Branch. Tickets can be ordered from M. Wallace, 28 Rossendale, CM1 2UA. Tel. 01245 601373 or by email at maljan9@gmail.com Please send a stamped addressed envelope.