Protest against the cuts

North Staffs Against Cuts are calling a protest against the budget cuts the Stoke-on-Trent council are forcing through. Please see the press release below. We would encourage everybody who is against cuts to come along to the demo and show their opposition to the council’s undemocratic budget slashes.

North Staffs Against Cuts (NSAC)

Press Release 14/02/12

 

**Protest Against the Cuts**

North Staffs Against Cuts (NSAC) are calling a protest against the Stoke-on-Trent council budget cuts on Thursday 23^rd February 2012 outside the council chamber on Kingsway, Stoke, starting at 1645.

NSAC strongly oppose the £24m cuts the council are pushing through this year. This second round of cuts will affect all sections of the community: children, pensioners, disabled people and council workers. Last year saw the closure of two local swimming pools, children’s centres, libraries alongside huge budget cuts to hundreds of other services. This year’s budget includes unfair contract changes to refuse workers, closure of a recently-built specialist dementia care home, closure of the Wedgwood College and the sacking of three hundred council workers.

Jason Hill, president of North Staffs Trades Union Council (NSTUC) says, “The council says they are mandated to cut services in the city because of the Tory government policy. The people of Stoke-on-Trent did not vote for these cuts nor did we elect councillors to cut vital services, such as youth centres and nursing homes. We believe the council should refuse to make any budget cuts and fight to defend the services and people of Stoke-on-Trent against the savage Tory cuts agenda.”

NSAC encourage all individuals and organisations that are against the cuts to come along to the protest, bring their banners and placards and show their opposition to the devastating slashing of services that will affect the city for many years to come.

North Staffs Against Cuts

 Public Meeting
Monday 13th February 2012 7pm

CND Peace Centre

Burslem School of Arts

Queen Street

Stoke-on-Trent

ST6 3EJ

Come along to help organise:

-         a demonstration outside the Stoke-on-Trent council chamber on the day of the budget vote

-         plans for the fight back against the budget cut of £24m.

 

Tomorrow’s Rally

Todays Autumn budget statement by Chancellor George Osborne was another attack on millions of workers. The unjust statement also included tax breaks for the rich. Osborne set out his attack by increasing the pension age to 67 for all those retiring after 2026. He also further attacked public sector workers, ahead of tomorrows strike, by announcing a cap on pay increases following the pay freezes already announced  (given the current high rates of inflation this is effectively a 20% pay cut over 4 years).

These and many other attacks contained in todays statement show the real intentions of the condem Government in making ordinary workers pay for the economic crisis. Therefor there is a greater need for all to support tommorow’s action. North Staffs Against Cuts urges all supporters  to stand up to the Goverments savage cuts by attending tomorrow’s rally in Stoke for which speakers have now been confirmed.  Please see the NSTUC blog for details.

November 30th Day of Action

£25 million in Stoke-on-Trent council cuts earmarked for 2012

It has just reached the attention of NSAC that Stoke-on-Trent council is proposing £25million spending cuts for 2012.

The details of where the axe will fall are still under negotiation but it is being widely rumoured that all the teachers will be sacked from the children’s centres that were saved last year. This would result in the buildings of the children’s centres remaining open yet vacant due to no teaching staff working in them.

Needless to say we think that this these cuts (on top of £35 million cut last year seeing care homes, libraries, pools and job losses) is outrageous.

Join NSAC and come along to the meeting on the 26th September to discuss how we can oppose these savage cuts.

 

Stoke-on-Trent is one of the worst councils for disability services provision

NSAC has just learned of a new website that charts local authority disability services provision. It ranks local authorities by their provision and shows how the budget cuts for 2011 have impacted upon local disability groups.

The website can be seen here:

http://disability-cuts-map.demos.co.uk/local-authority/stoke-on-trent/

“Stoke-on-Trent

• Rank: 133 out of 152 councils in England

• Cuts Level: Low cut

• Coping Level: Bad
  

Below is some further information about cuts in your local area:

1. 3.41 per cent budget change to disabled children and families’ care and support
2. -5.39 per cent budget change to adult care and support
3. -5.22 per cent budget change to older people’s care and support

Stoke-on-Trent has increased the cost of home care from £13.20 to £13.80 per hour, but the council says that no local care or disability services have been closed. The council also aims to deduct 20 per cent from the amount of a personal budget before giving the money to the disabled person. Personal budgets are cash payments that can be given to disabled people who are eligible for care and support services to buy their own services, rather than have them provided by the council.”

(Other local authorities’ disability services can also be viewed).

Monday 26th September NSAC public meeting

Monday 12th September NSAC public meeting

Wednesday 17th August public meeting to organise the ‘March for Stoke’

500,000 marched in London on the 26th March

750,000 went on strike on the 30th June

Organising the March for Stoke
North Staffs Against Cuts Public Meeting
Wednesday 17th August 7pm
CWU Office, Lindsay Street, Hanley,
Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4EP

Come along to discuss organising:

• The ‘March for Stoke’ in November
• The Lib Dem party conference demonstration on 18th September
• The Tory party conference demonstration on 2nd October

Wednesday 20th July 7pm ‘Organising the March for Stoke’ Public Meeting

500,000 marched in London on 26th March

750,00 went on strike on 30th June

Organising the March for Stoke

North Staffs Against Cuts Public Meeting

Wednesday 20th July 7pm

CWU office, Lindsay Street, Hanley,

Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 4EP

Come along to discuss organising:

• The ‘March for Stoke’ in September/October
• The ‘Picnic in the Park’ on the 20th August
• The Lib Dem party conference demonstration on 18th September
• The Tory party conference demonstration on 2nd October