Striking Unilever workers shut down the Manchester factory which packages PG Tips and Brooke Bond tea last week as part of a national dispute to defend pensions. Thousands of employees took part in the walkout, prompting the company to retaliate by cancelling Christmas parties and staff bonuses.
Unemployment in Greater Manchester has risen by 13.5 per cent in the last year while the number of young people claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) climbed to unprecedented levels seen during the recession, according to the latest figures from the Commission for the New Economy.
Ivor Dembina has been doing stand-up of over 20 years. He has a reputation for using gentle Jewish comedy to tackle serious issues, such as his 2010 show This Is Not A Subject For Comedy which took on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Manchester Mule briefly caught up with Ivor ahead of two gigs he is performing this coming weekend as part of the Mancheser Comedy Festival.
Upper Space is a not-for-profit, European street art organisation that has been working in Manchester for the last 6 months. It dedicates itself to “deconstructing the myths” forced upon us by the beautiful, smiling forms that haunt us from advertising billboards.
A Longsight mental health charity is launching a new project for residents to share skills ranging from DIY to guitar lessons with one another. Staff at The Roby centre on Dickenson Road say the new ‘time banking’ scheme will help bring local people together and tackle ill health and isolation.
Over two hundred people rallied in Manchester’s Albert Square on Saturday in opposition to government cuts to support for disabled people. Similar demonstrations were held across the country as part of a national day of action called for by the Hardest Hit campaign.