Manchester prepares to march on London

Article published: Wednesday, March 23rd 2011

Community campaigners, public sector workers, students and trade unionists from across the UK will converge on London this Saturday as they join the Trades Union Congress ‘March for the Alternative’ in protest against the coalition government’s austerity agenda. MULE speaks to some of the Mancunians who will be there.

This Saturday’s TUC-organised march for ‘Jobs, Justice and Growth’ will see what is expected to be the largest public protest since demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq. Attending will be many people from the campaigns which have sprung up in Manchester in recent months to oppose cuts to their local services.

Sue McPherson is a working mum and one of the organisers of the successful community campaign which saw Manchester City Council forced to reverse its decision to close Levenshulme Baths.

‘I am going because we have to do something about the coalition government’s cuts. What won’t stop them is sitting around and doing nothing. It worked for the poll tax and it can work again. One day may not do it, but there are lots of actions taking place and as part of a continued campaign against these cuts which are devastating our communities it can work.

‘We also know that some off duty police officers are marching with us. Enough pressure can be put on the Lib Dems to see whether they want to keep on propping up a right-wing government. The coalition can be forced to fall.’

Mark Krantz of Manchester Coalition Against the Cuts, a broad group that brings together community campaigners and trade unionists, told MULE why it is important for people to go: ‘The protest in London on Saturday will be the biggest demo of workers and the people in living memories. We expect the whole climate in the country to change because people will see that it’s not just them alone against the cuts but in fact millions. We want people to come back with renewed confidence and energy and take up the fight.’

A strong mobilisation is expected from the city’s students, whose radical response to cuts in education and the tripling of tuition fees saw around 4,000 – including sixth form students, high school pupils and teachers – take over Oxford Road last November.

Naomi Ryder is a first-year music student who has been involved in the occupation of the Roscoe Lecture Theatre at the University of Manchester:

‘I’m going on the march on the student union coaches but also meeting up with the Manchester NHS contingent when I get down to London. I’m going to the march because I believe that what this government is doing will hurt people, particularly the most vulnerable in society such as women, LGBT, disabled people and people on the poverty line.’

Alongside the more traditional trade unions will be an array of radical groups who are fighting against the cuts in innovative and creative ways. The direct action network UKUncut, which came to media attention last year with occupations of corporate tax evaders including Vodafone and Boots in cities across the country, have identified a list of tax dodgers along Oxford Road for protestors to target and turn into socially-useful spaces, from libraries to crèches. In their announcement they have told supporters to be ‘ready for a spectacular mass occupation of a secret target’ at 3pm.

Over the last week the TUC have attracted criticism for their ostensible collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Force. Police surveillance website Fitwatch have described how TUC stewards ‘are receiving training directly from the Metropolitan police’, with whom they will share intelligence in order to target ‘trouble-makers’. This is particularly controversial given the repressive policing methods used to quell the student protests.

General Secretary Brendan Barber has publicly declared that the TUC does not support or endorse the numerous ‘feeder marches’ – organised by militant and radical groups – which will join the main march on Embankment. Meanwhile civil rights group Liberty, appointed by the Met as ‘official’ legal observers on the day, have been accused of compromising their independence for working so closely with the police – whose violent approach at protests has been well-documented.

Yet this will not deter activists from showing their political colours.

Rose contacted MULE about the Pink and Black bloc which will be setting off from Soho Square at 10am. ‘It is organised by Queer Resistance, a group of queers and allies from across the UK who have come together to fight the cuts. We want to march in solidarity with other anti cuts groups and ensure a visible queer presence and invite people from across lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer (LGBTQ) communities as well as friends and allies to join with us. We can also give each other moral support, companionship, provide safety in numbers and to look out for each other. I will be wearing pink and black.’

Ben, who works for a charity in Manchester, will be marching as part of the Radical Workers bloc:

‘I will be on the bloc because I am not convinced about the TUC and its role within the anti-cuts movement. This bloc is an alternative to trade union politics and it is exciting seeing so many alternatives to traditional forms of protest springing up. There will be lots of people on the streets and it should be a great opportunity to meet new people and learn from them and their struggles.’

Michael Pooler

For those concerned about police violence sukey.org are releasing a smartphone application that is designed to facilitate peaceful protest and keep protestors ‘safe, mobile and informed’. They have declared that they will pass on no information to police.

Indications from organisers are that all forms of transport leaving Manchester on Friday and Saturday are fully booked. People are now being advised to arrange lift-shares with neighbours and friends. You can find out about spare places by visiting the False Economy website: http://falseeconomy.org.uk/travel/north-west/M/t1

The Roscoe Occupation have posted a list of useful information on the events planned for the day. You can read it here

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Comments

1. I don’t think there’ll be much sympathy for a bunch of public sector workers marching to demand the status quo of overstaffing, inefficiency and the jobs for life culture.

   Comment by simon on March 24, 2011 at 2:13 am

2. Never used the NHS, did you Simon. Gee, I wonder where all those workers you rely on to get you through the day (the ones you don’t see), got an education. Um, state schools.
   But of course, in the simonoverse, there was no deprivation when “private enterprise” was unshackled and allowed to get on with the job. Say in the 1920s and 30s. Everyone was prosperous and happy, weren’t they?

   Comment by Dwight Towers on March 25, 2011 at 10:20 am

3. The big problem is that the likes of Mark Kranz and Sue McPherson provide absolutely no alternative. The country is in massive debt due to the previous Labour Government, something needs to happen to sort this out.

   The Trade Unions have absolutely no credibility over any cuts. Their solution? Just like the Labour Party is to borrow more!

   Comment by Dave Hennigan on March 25, 2011 at 4:00 pm

4. This guy is a Lib-Dem. He and his party are propping up a government of millionaires forcing through unpopular policies. He will blame the crisis on ‘Labour’, the ‘unions’ and the ‘Left’ all day long. He is hungry for your votes. Don’t believe him.

   Comment by Astute observer on March 25, 2011 at 4:24 pm

5. @Dave Hennigan. The big problem is that you are propping up a right-wing government. Deal with it. mass action works, not individuals. I couldn’t give a monkeys what you think. Stop whinging.

   Comment by Sue on March 25, 2011 at 5:45 pm

6. PS Mr Hennigan. You wanted to demo and march to save Levy baths! You’ve crowed on leaflets saying that the community’s action worked. And now you are saying no alternative. The alternative is just like what happened in Levy, Poll Tax ect etc. You are a funny lot.

   Comment by Sue on March 25, 2011 at 5:49 pm

7. Sue, you are correct, there is an alternative. The Lib Dem budget would have invested £5,000,000 in SureStart and protected front-line services!

   Comment by Dave Hennigan on March 25, 2011 at 6:33 pm

8. @David. No, you wanted to cut pay and trade union costs. I have read your proposal. I also heard the treasurer’s response at the Resources Committee.: you can’t cut the communications budget. Your figures make no sense. Your government has cut EMA. Your government is wrecking HE (my sector). Your government is privatising the NHS. Don’t do the local we are cuddly line, while attacking services nationally.

   Comment by Sue on March 25, 2011 at 6:39 pm

9. Missing presumed extinct: Liberal backbone if found please redistribute to Liberal cllrs and mps nationally. Side effects of said loss include hypocrisy, bullying, hijacking of community campaigns and proping up a right-wing govt.

   Comment by Beth on March 25, 2011 at 7:35 pm

10. @Beth- Brilliant!

    Comment by Sue on March 25, 2011 at 7:37 pm

11. whats wrong with jobs for life? we have taxes, inflation and prisons for life – so why not put work on an equal footing?

    Comment by Withingtonian on March 28, 2011 at 9:05 pm

The comments are closed.