On
30th November we saw the Public Sector workers of Northumberland come
together in an unprecedented show of solidarity with a total of 22 picket lines.
Anyone passing picket lines seen the strength and solidarity we showed on the
morning of the strike. At Gateshead, where we took 3 coaches of activists and
members, there was a sea of purple and green, a tidal wave of flags and deafened
by a cacophony of vuvuzela’s and whistles. The Northern regions message to
David Cameron was clear, ‘We have had enough!"
Commenting
on the 30th November, Branch Secretaries’ Ian Fleming and Joyce
Guthrie said “it was a great and
proud day to see so many UNISON members stand side by side on the picket lines
and to see the UNISON colours lead the way at the March in Gateshead, the
public applause was very heartening and it clearly showed the public do support
our fight.”
At
the Rally at Spillers Wharf, speakers from the participating unions all had a
similar message. The attack on our pensions is unfair and unjustified. Many of
us have been subjected to a pay freeze for at least two years and have now been
told that any wage rise will be capped at 1%. This means that in real terms our
standard of living is eroded even further than it already has been. To then ask
us to pay more for our pensions is ludicrous. Many of our members are already
struggling to make ends meet as prices soar and the cost of living rises on an
almost daily basis.
Many
of the members UNISON represent are low paid, part time women who, rather than
claim benefits, fit work around child care and family commitments. David
Cameron now wants to penalise them by taking away what little security they
manage to accrue for the future. The average pension for these people is less
than £4,000 per year under the current scheme and to erode the schemes further
will leave many of us struggling in our retirement.
As a branch we would like to say an enormous
thank you to all those who turned out to show support, especially those who
manned picket lines from very early in the morning. There was much stamping
feet and rubbing of hands in the cold morning air, but the overwhelming
attitude was one of determination and tenacity. We are not prepared to let the
Con-Dem’s win this battle. Let’s hope that the Government will now see sense
and enter into meaningful consultation with our negotiators.
A
number of pictures were taken on the 30th November and these will be
available soon on our website at www.unisonnorthumberland.org.uk
Joyce
Guthrie & Ian Fleming,
Joint
Branch Secretaries
