Unionists joined by students in Plymouth anti-cuts march
BANNER-bearing students, unionists and public sector workers marched through Plymouth city centre protesting against cuts.
Plymouth Trades' Union Council (TUC) staged the demonstration to mark International Workers' Day.
Dozens of protesters carried flags and banners with slogans including "Welfare not Warfare", "Hands Off Our Pensions" and even "Justin Bieber says No".
The procession left the Guildhall, on Armada Way, at noon on Saturday and ended at an all-day trade union rally at the University of Plymouth's Roland Levinsky Building.
People of all ages voiced opposition to a range of cuts and changes hitting local education, health services, the council and private sector.
Tom Ryan, a 14-year-old Devonport High School for Boys student, was among teenagers demonstrating against university tuition fee rises.
He said: "Our futures are being decided for us. It's unfair that people have to pay so much for education."
The University of Plymouth announced this week that fees would rise from just over £3,000 a year to £9,000 for students who start their courses from September 2012.
Philippa Davey, University and College Union regional support official, added: "The people of Plymouth don't fully realise how much cuts are going to affect them. We have to stand up for the most vulnerable people in our society."
Jeremy Guise, Plymouth Unison branch secretary, said the event is about celebrating the Workers' Day and recognising the struggles of ordinary people. He said: "It is particularly pertinent when the council is making 25 per cent budget cuts over the next three years. That's cuts to services for the people of Plymouth and cuts to the number of staff that provide them. And it comes at a time when demand for these services is increasing as people are laid off in public sector cuts and compromises."
Tony Staunton, Plymouth TUC secretary, said the weekend's protests were part of a "growing mass action against this so-called age of austerity".
In Plymouth, the TUC has linked unions to set out their opposition to the cuts.
Mr Staunton said: "The recession and cuts are affecting all workers, both in the public and private sectors. We are seeing the development of coordinated action across the trade union movement. We will be seeing protests and industrial action from all sections of the working class."
University lecturers union the UCU took strike action in Plymouth last month, in protest against cuts to university funding. The civil trade union PCS closed Jobcentres last week in a nationwide strike. The teachers trade union the NUT voted for strike action at their national conference last weekend.
Mr Staunton said Plymouth unions are concerned about hundreds of jobs at risk in Plymouth health services, 500 jobs at risk at Plymouth City Council, 200 civil servants' jobs, with 10 per cent unemployment predicted across Plymouth by 2012.
The annual May Day Festival of Plymouth trades unions was held between 11am and 6pm.
John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, lead the march and spoke at the rally.
It featured films, talks and meetings, and campaign stalls on the theme of "Trade Unions for a Sustainable Future".
5 Comments
by David, St Austell
Tuesday, May 03 2011, 11:07AM
“I agree with C UKIP get my vote as the only ones wanting us out of the EUSSR. Anyone who votes for one of the three main parties is voting to give away our sovereignty to Brussells.”
by C, Plymouth
Tuesday, May 03 2011, 2:26AM
“Tim, Peverell! are you serious? Brown sold our Gold at a knock down price, raided the State pension pot, Darling left a note saying 'Sorry no money, left spent it all' and you are not blaming Labour?? The students would be better marching. against Britain becoming part of the United State of Europe Socialist Society, they can march now and there is free speech, ut come 2014 we are controlled completely from Brussells! Cameron, Clegg and the Labour person are all the same, just lining their own pockets, UKIP are the only ones who are going to get us out of this mess”
by Tim, Peverell
Monday, May 02 2011, 5:50PM
“Anyone who thinks that the "mess" this country is in is Labour's fault really needs their head looking at.
Do you seriously believe that the British Labour Party caused the recessions in Greece, Germany, Spain, Ireland, France, Portugal, the USA etc etc etc?
This was a GLOBAL crisis of financial capital, it was not caused by the Labour Party.
When Labour left office the economy was growing. Now, to use the words of the Bank of England, it has "flat lined". This is before the real impact of the cuts even hits us.
But this march was not about the Labour Party. It was about ordinary working people standing up for OUR public services, against cuts that are not only unnecessary, but will actually do more harm to the economy than good.
And just to put it on the record, no, I am not a member of the Labour Party and didn't even vote for them in the general election.”
by ROBROY, PLYMOUTH
Monday, May 02 2011, 11:11AM
“Instead of protesting, these people would be better occupied putting forward constructive alternative ideas, that would get this country out of the mess left behind by probably the worst Labour government in living memeory.”
by david, plymouth
Monday, May 02 2011, 9:13AM
“Its a shame these idiots didnt protest at their traitorous freinds who decimated this country for 13 years when they had the chance.
Perhaps then they would have the free education that was given to Scotland .... along with the other "freebies" given to others but not the English. All done by the ones that these unions pay for . You idiots made the bed ..... now squirm in it .”