demonstration – Notts Save Our Services

UCU strike and NCAFC

Members of the University and College Union, UCU (the largest trade union and professional association for academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff working in further and higher education throughout the UK), are joined with Unison, Unite and EIS on strike today for fair pay. Visit: http://fairpay.web.ucu.org.uk
for details and live updates. The one-day strike will be followed next week by a third 2-hour strike of UCU, two having already taken place in 2014, action which is due to escalate unless there is negotiation. Local action is taking place at higher education organisations University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. Local action has included pickets and ‘teach-outs’ in the city centre. At University of Nottingham, Unison and Unite members are not out due to local agreements.

Update: UCU members at Aberdeen, Bradford, East London, West of Scotland, Greenwich, Staffordshire, the Leeds College of Art, Manchester Met, Nottingham Trent, Robert Gordon and Queen Mary UL are all being called out on Monday 10th Feb for a full day strike because management has been docking a full days pay for a 2 hour strike.

Also see the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts for news of student-led actions and solidarity: http://anticuts.com.

Twitter (good for recent updates across UK, including photos): https://twitter.com/#fairpayinhe

Previous:

Demonstration Against the Government & Financial Crisis plus Celebration of Occupy’s First Year Anniversary

People from Nottingham Occupy who took over slab square a year ago will be running an information stand next weekend on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st October 2012 to demonstrate Against the government & financial crisis plus a celebration of Occupy’s first year anniversary.

Meet in front of the Council House (Old Market Square, Nottingham) from 12 Noon.

If you’ve had enough of the financial crisis, the cuts & loss of services affecting your lives & family, sick of the unjust tax evasion, tired of commodities being so expensive when their is no need other than to increase profit margins for the rich, sick of the wars being fought for power & control of resources to create higher profits, or the planet being destroyed & polluted to provide products, then join us, bring posters, banners & instruments, shout about what you are not happy with, dance with us & most importantly be part of the positive change you want to see & stand together united in defiance.

We are the 99%

More details on Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/487627724601725/

Oct 20th anti-austerity demonstration in London – coaches from Nottingham

A Future That Works: 20 October 2012

UPDATE POST-OCT 20th: Reportz from Indymedia: http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/10/501777.html

List of coaches: http://falseeconomy.org.uk/travel/east-midlands/all/t1

Demo info: https://nottssos.org.uk/2012/08/28/coaches-to-london-anti-austerity-demo-a-future-that-works-20th-october-2012/

Build the resistance – Notts TUC public meeting, 18 July, New Mechanics Institute, Nottingham.

Build the resistance is a public meeting called by Notts Trades Union Council to take place on Wednesday 18 July, New Mechanics Institute, Nottingham, 7-9pm. The purpose of the meeting is to plan for the 20th October 2-2012 march against austerity in London. Speakers include: Jim Aspinal, Save Kirkby Hospital; Andreas Bieler, Prof Political Economy, University of Nottingham; speaker from Parents Against the Five Term Year (PA5TY).

Flyer for meeting: http://www.nottstuc.org/2012/07/build-resistance-notts-tuc-public.html
Details of the October march can be found here: http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/2012/05/a-national-demonstration-against-austerity-20-october-2012/

Other recent TUC news:
On 14th July, Rally for our future: defend public services, took place in Sheffield.
Transport from Nottingham was organised by the NUT. See link:
http://www.teachers.org.uk/files/july-14-flyer-sheffield-a5—8224.pdf

Report and photos from 10th May industrial action and rallies in Nottingham

Report from Indymedia. Lots of photos at: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2584

Public Service workers in health, education and the civil service were striking on Thursday 10 May in their next stage of the pensions dispute. Members of Unite working in health, UCU in education and the PCS in the civil service took part in the action which they thought to be an important step to bigger and more coordinated action in June.

Joining with ASLEF train drivers who were taking their 4th day of action over changes to their own pensions, which will see their pension pot devalued as a result of lower employer contribution. Like workers in the public sector, they are facing pensioner poverty for themselves and young people hoping to move into employment whose future the government seem determined to sell out.

There were two rallies on the day. The first started at the Queens Medical Centre at 11.00 am and linked in with Unite members there. After that, the main rally took place at 12.00 in the Market Square, Nottingham. Guest speakers will included union members in ASLEF, UNITE, UCU and PCS and a representative from Occupy Nottingham, students as well as representatives of other unions in dispute.

See also, ASLEF strike report from Tuesday 15th May: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2586

Nottingham Mayday (Saturday 5th May 2012) videos

Four videos from Saturday’s May Day (international workers’ day) celebrations in Nottingham city, march into town from the Forest Recreation ground to the city centre and rally in the Congregational Hall, Castle Gate.

Mayday march video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYiSq9WshW4

Video of march and start of rally (MC speech): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNW1-isw2Uw#!

Video of the Meale protest (at the start of the May Day Rally event) and Notts Unison speaker
https://vimeo.com/41626666 (password is indymedia).

Notts Uncut speech at Mayday Rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmd-Czq_qb8

Notts SOS update for week beginning 19th March 2012 and forthcoming events

This is the latest update from Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS).

While there isn’t as much happening in Notts over the next week as the last few, the struggle against the cuts continues. The government are
not relenting (indeed they’ve just announced plans to further attack public sector workers by abolishing national pay arrangements) and neither will we.

—

NOTTS SOS MEETINGS
We meet every two weeks. The next meeting will be Monday 26th March.

Meetings start at 7.30pm and are held at the International Community Centre, Mansfield Road. Meetings are usually finished before 9pm and there’s often an opportunity to carry on any discussion informally in the pub afterwards. Please do come along and get involved.

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OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM
Occupy Nottingham was in court to challenge Nottingham City Council’s eviction order on Tuesday 13th. The case was adjourned to Friday 16th,
but on Thursday the occupiers were informed that the judge had granted them a 3 week adjournment until 5th April.

Press release: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2472
On Saturday 24th March there will be a benefit night for Occupy Nottingham at the Sumac Centre.

This will include Dub Reggae, Ragga Bashment, D+B, Dubstep & Jungle Bizness! All in aid of Occupy Nottingham!

Headliner: YT (SATIVA RECORDS) + DJ’s: Shrug Knight; Buda; Vinyljunkie; Remington; Spread; Jake5nake. £4 on the Door!!!

Food will be available at ‘Peoples Kitchen’ from 6.30pm, a great vegan meal for a small donation to Occupy Nottingham, it is hoped that there will be an open forum discussion before hand from 5pm.

Details: http://www.veggies.org.uk/event.php?ref=1079
—————

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Wednesday 21st MarchBudget Day

Saturday 24th March, 6.30pmOccupy Nottingham benefit night at the Sumac Centre

Monday 26th March, 7.30pmNotts SOS planning meeting. International Community Centre, Mansfield Road

Tuesday 27th March, 7pmHands Off Notts Schools meeting. Beeston Library, Foster Avenue, Beeston: http://wp.me/p1FhWU-2G

Wednesday 28th MarchPossible national strike action over pensions by PCS and NUT (and maybe other unions).

Thursday 5th AprilOccupy Nottingham court date: http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

Saturday 12th April, 2pmLegal observer training organised by Nottingham Defence Campaign and run by Green and Black Cross. Held at the Sumac Centre: https://imc.li/2sgsx

Friday 27th April, 7.15pm-lateNotts Trades Council May Day social. The Polish Eagle Club. £5 on the door/concessions.

Saturday 5th May, 10amMay Day march from the Forest Recreation Ground for a rally in the Market Square. Speakers to include Mark Serwotka from PCS.

—
Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)
Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Email list: http://goo.gl/uT89q

Notts SOS meeting Monday 12th March 2012 and forthcoming events

This is the latest update from Notts Save Our Services with information on our upcoming meetings, a report back from the city council budget meeting, news about the Market Square occupation and invites to an online security skillshare and a ramble in Sherwood Forest.

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NOTTS SOS MEETINGS

We meet every two weeks. Last week’s city council protest fell on what would have been our meeting dates, so we’ve slipped a week. This means that the next meeting is tomorrow (Monday 12th March). The next meeting will then be Monday 26th March.

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CITY COUNCIL CUTS

On Monday 5th March Nottingham City Council met to agree its 2012-13 budget, with £20m cuts, 195 job cuts and a 3.49% council tax hike. Notts SOS protested outside.

We’re disappointed – but not surprised – by the vote, but this is not the end of the campaign. This is the fourth year in a row the city council has cut its budget and they already expect to slash a further £24m by spring 2015

Press release: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2456

Nottingham Indymedia coverage: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/articles/2457

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OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM COURT DATE

After serving notice on Occupy Nottingham, a week earlier, Nottingham City Council served court paper on the camp on Tuesday 3rd March. The case is to be heard from 10am on Tuesday 13th March at Notttingham County Court, 60 Canal Street, Nottingham.

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ONLINE SECURITY SKILLSHARE

An increasing amount of activism takes place online, this can be very effective, but it also carries a number of risks and potentially leaves you vulnerable to surveillance.

On Saturday 17th March, Nottingham Indymedia are running a session at the Sumac Centre exploring how you can communicate securely online, defend your anonymity and evade state repression on the internet.

Communicating securely is everyone’s business. Even if your activism is super-fluffy, you can help make the internet safer for everyone by adopting good security practices. If only the people doing spiky things used these practices, they would attract attention just by doing so. Get into the habit of doing things securely before you really need to and you will be a thorn in the side of the surveillance state. There will also be a chance to look at how to use the Nottingham Indymedia site to publish your own stories from the streets.

The skillshare is at the Sumac Centre, 245 Gladstone Street, Nottingham NG7 6HX and begins at 2pm.

Details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2413

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RAMBLE IN THE WOODS

The Save Sherwood Forest campaign are organising a ramble on Sunday 18th March to celebrate World Forest Day and mark a year of campaigning to keep the Public Forest Estate in public ownership. They’re hoping for a good turn out to show that people are still passionate about keeping Sherwood Forest & Sherwood Pines in public ownership and that this is the best way to protect our forest heritage for the community and future generations.

They will be meeting by the big notice board mid-way between the car park and the Visitor Centre/Café at 10am for a 10.30am start. Sherwood Pines is off the B6030 near Old Clipstone, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire – the post code is NG21 9JL.

The walk will be accessible to all and will feature interludes by Dave Wood – the Nottinghamshire poet – and members of the Clarion Choir. It should be over by 12pm-12.30pm, just in time for Mother’s Day Lunch.

Details: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2442

Save Sherwood Forest website: http://www.savesherwoodforest.org.uk

—————

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday 12th March, 7.30pm
Notts SOS planning meeting. International Community Centre, Mansfield Road.

Tuesday 13th March, 10am
Occupy Nottingham court hearing. Nottingham County Court, 60 Canal Street, Nottingham.

Wednesday 14th March
National student walkout over “reforms” to higher education: http://gu.com/p/35dqz

Thursday 15th March
Nottingham Solidarity Network meeting: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2446

Saturday 17th March, 2pm
Nottingham Indymedia are organising an online security skillshare at
the Sumac Centre.This will include an introductory session on using Indymedia to post your own news about campaigns: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2413

Sunday 18th March, 10am-12pm
Save Sherwood Forest ramble to celebrate World Forest Day and mark a year of campaigning to keep the Public Forest Estate in public ownership: http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2442

Wednesday 21st March
Budget Day

Monday 26th March, 7.30pm
Notts SOS planning meeting. International Community Centre, Mansfield Road.

Wednesday 28th March
Possible national strike action over pensions by PCS and NUT (and maybe other unions)

Saturday 12th April, 2pm
Legal observer training organised by Nottingham Defence Campaign and run by Green and Black Cross. Held at the Sumac Centre: https://imc.li/2sgsx

—
Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)

Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Email list: http://goo.gl/uT89q

Campaigners to protest at city council budget meeting – Notts SOS Press Release – join the demonstrations on Monday 5th March

PRESS RELEASE Notts Save Our Services 1st March 2012

Campaigners to protest at city council budget meeting
On Monday March 5th, Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)
will protest outside the Council House when Nottingham City Council
meets to vote on its budget for 2012-13.

From 12.30pm-1.30pm, campaigners from the group will join with members
of Nottingham City Unison, demonstrating against the cuts to jobs and
services being voted through.

There will also be a protest for people coming from work at 5pm-7pm.

Protesters hope to present a petition against the council’s cuts
during the lunchtime demonstration.

The budget being discussed at the meeting includes a 3.49% council tax
increase alongside 195 job cuts.

The council are looking at selling-off Portland Leisure Centre;
closing two centres for older people, Marlstones Elderly Person’s Home
in Bulwell and the Willows Centre in Beechdale; closing the Museum of
Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard; cutting food waste collections and
closing nine recycling centres; and reducing funding to Connexions, a
support service for young people.

The council had also propsed reducing redundancy payments for laid-off
staff to the legal minimum, but has subsequently withdrawn this
proposal.

In total the council hope to save £20m to cover a shortfall arising
from reduced government funding as a result of the coalition
government’s austerity drive.

The council has also said that this will not be the end to the cuts,
with an additional £24m of cutbacks required by the end of the spring
2015.

Notts SOS believe that the cuts agenda is ideologically driven and are
urging councillors to stand-up to central government.

Claire Taylor from Notts SOS said, “Council Leader Jon Collins and
Deputy Leader Graham Chapman have been vocally critical of central
government and often with good reason. Now it’s time for them to put
their money where their mouth is and refuse to pass the cuts onto the
people of Nottingham. Even a single council refusing to implement a
cuts budget would shake the coalition government.”

Contacts

Email: nottssos@gmail.com
Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Email list: http://goo.gl/uT89q

Notes for editors

1. Notts SOS was set up in the autumn of 2010 to campaign and oppose
all cuts to services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. We have been
fighting council cuts on many levels since then, including organising
a 1,200 strong march to the city centre in November 2010.

ENDS

Join us in fighting the cuts – Notts SOS update for week beginning 27th Feb 2012

Last Thursday, Nottinghamshire County Council voted through its latest
cuts budget with the “independents” and LibDems tagging along with the
Tory majority.

Nevertheless,The fight against the cuts continues. In Nottinghamshire
they still need to be implemented and, across the river in the city,
it is just over a week before Nottingham City Council meet to agree
their budget. We’ll be there making it clear that we’re not happy with
the way they are meekly following central government’s diktats and
passing on the costs of the crisis to the ordinary people of
Nottingham.

Come along and get involved!

—–

BOYCOTT WORKFARE

Workfare is the name applied to a number of government programmes in
which people on workfare are expected to work without pay. Instead of
a living wage, they receive only JSA – a tiny £53 a week for the
under-25s – far below minimum wage.

Workfare means those in paid positions may see their jobs replaced by
this unpaid labour. Why would a company pay for people to do these
jobs when they can get free labour from the Job Centre?

There has been a lot of controversy about this over the last week,
following (ultimately successful) protests against Tescos which was a
participant in the “Work Experience Programme”.

In solidarity with Liverpool Uncut’s action against workfare on
Saturday 3rd March, Boycott Workfare has called a national day of
action against workfare. Notts Uncut are organising a demonstration as
part of this in Nottingham.

So many high street stores are involved in taking on forced unpaid
labour that there is plenty of choice – Asda, Holland & Barrett,
Primark, HMV, and Topshop to name but a few.

We can put a stop to this forced unpaid labour – Waterstones,
Sainsburys and TK Maxx have all recently announced that they would no
longer take unpaid placements – the other companies just need a bit
more encouragement to stop this exploitation.

Meet outside Wilkinsons, Parliament Street, 12pm

Protest details: http://s.coop/nottsworkfare

More on workfare: http://www.boycottworkfare.org

—————

OCCUPY NOTTINGHAM

The occupation of Nottingham’s Market Square has now been ongoing for
more than 4 months. The campers are inviting people along to an
outreach and social event in Sneinton. This is an opportunity to enjoy
a relaxed informative insight into the economy, the Occupy movement,
and its aims, achievements and plans the future.

What to expect:

Speakers/Open Debate: 7-8pm
Food, Music & Poetry: 8-9pm
Networking/Open Floor: 9-10pm

…and much much more!

This is a free event organised by the Occupy Nottingham Outreach
working group, and everyone is invited to get involved or attend for
an insightful, educational and fun evening!

The event will be held at Sneinton Hermitage Community Centre,
Sneinton Boulevard, NG2 4GN

More details: http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

—————

CITY COUNCIL CUTS

On Monday March 5th, Nottingham City Council will be meeting to agree
its budget, slashing jobs and services and hiking council tax.

Notts SOS and Nottingham City Unison will be holding a join
demonstration outside the Council House from 12.30pm-1.30pm.

Unison are also holding a smaller demonstration at Loxley House on
Wednesday 29th February in defence of the essential car user allowance
which has already been cutback and is likely to be attacked further.

—————

ONE MILLION SIGNATURES FOR EUROPE

A petition has been launched calling for the “onerous debt” on Greece
to be written off. The intention is to collect a million signatures.
Under the Treaty of Lisbon, a petition with at least one million
signatures obtained from a number of Member States can be sent to the
Commission inviting it to change the law accordingly.

Petition: http://www.1millionsignatures.eu/?a=en

—————

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 28th February, 7pm-10pm
Occupy Nottingham community outreach and social evening, Sneinton
Hermitage Community Centre, Sneinton Boulevard, NG2 4GN
http://occupy-nottingham.org.uk

Wednesday 29th February
PCS protest against closures of DVLA offices. Nottingham Business Park, Strelley
https://imc.li/zxphu

Wednesday 29th February, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Nottingham City Unison protest outside Loxley House in defence of
essential car user allowances
http://www.nottinghamcityunison.org.uk/

Saturday 3rd March, 12pm
Protest against workfare. Meet outside Wilkinsons, Parliament Street.
http://s.coop/nottsworkfare

Monday 5th March, 12.30pm-1.30pm
Nottingham City Council meets to set its budget. A protest is being
organised by Notts City Unison and Notts SOS.
http://www.nottinghamcityunison.org.uk/

Wednesday 7th March, 1pm-7.30pm
Save our NHS mass day of action, Houses of Parliament, London.
http://s.coop/unitenhs

Wednesday 14th March
National student walkout over “reforms” to higher education
http://gu.com/p/35dqz

Saturday 17th March, 2pm
Nottingham Indymedia are organising an online security skillshare at
the Sumac Centre.This will include an introductory session on using
Indymedia to post your own news about campaigns
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/events/2413

Wednesday 28th March
Possible national strike action over pensions by PCS and NUT (and
maybe other unions)

Saturday 12th April, 2pm
Legal observer training organised by Nottingham Defence Campaign and
run by Green and Black Cross. Held at the Sumac Centre, Forest Fields
https://imc.li/2sgsx

—
Nottinghamshire Save Our Services (Notts SOS)

Website: https://nottssos.org.uk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nottssos
OStatus: https://indy.im/nottssos
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/nottssosfb
Nottingham Indymedia:
http://nottingham.indymedia.org/groups/notts-save-our-services