{"id":8416,"date":"2016-04-18T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-18T14:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/unitelive.org\/?p=8416"},"modified":"2016-04-19T16:09:38","modified_gmt":"2016-04-19T15:09:38","slug":"the-power-is-in-our-hands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitelive.test.igniteamt.com\/?p=8416","title":{"rendered":"The power is in our hands"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tens of thousands of protestors descended on central London on Saturday (April 16) for the People\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Assembly March to demand better jobs, health, homes and education.<\/p>\n

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A large delegation of Unite members, as well as steel workers, junior doctors and others from across the UK took to the streets, marching from the University of Central London to Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the government\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s austerity policies.<\/p>\n

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Speakers at a rally at the end of the march included shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Unite general secretary Len McCluksey, NUT general secretary Christine Blower, among others. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed protestors at the rally by video message.<\/p>\n

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Unite branch secretary and London bus driver Mo Ahmed was among the estimated 50,000 demonstrators.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAusterity is having a very real impact on not only bus drivers but every worker in London and across the UK,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he told UNITElive. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe trade union Bill is especially harmful to workers and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s why I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m here today \u00e2\u20ac\u201d to call on this government to put an end to their policies that attack working people.<\/p>\n

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Ahmed has been a Unite member for as long as he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been a bus driver \u00e2\u20ac\u201d nearly 10 years. He emphasised that joining a union now is more important than ever before.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u0098Assert our rights\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u015bBeing in a union is one of the only ways that we can assert our democratic rights as workers,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he explained. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAttacking unions essentially means silencing our voices.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Unite member Christopher travelled all the way from Grimbsy to attend the march.\u00c2\u00a0Christopher, who just lost his job, explained that he came to send a clear message to the government.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bAusterity is ruining lives,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bGathering in large numbers like this sends a clear signal to the government that we just aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to accept their attack on us lying down.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Also involved with his local Unite community branch, Christopher told UNITElive that beyond large central marches, local protests are just as important.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bOur Unite community branch was really involved in the \u00e2\u20ac\u0098no to benefits sanctions\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 rally locally,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he explained. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe have to keep on putting on the pressure \u00e2\u20ac\u201d we can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t let up.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Vow<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell in his speech vowed that a Labour government would put an end to austerity once and for all.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe will halt the privatisation of our NHS and make it public once again,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd for all those people desperately waiting for a home, I can give this promise. We will build the hundreds of thousands of council homes that will end homelessness.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Addressing steel workers, McDonnell said, \u00e2\u20ac\u015bWe will fight for your jobs, and if we have to nationalise for the short-term, we will nationalise. We will fight to save this industry.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bFor too long, Labour leaders in the past have been embarrassed by their associations with struggles in the streets or industrial action,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he went on to say. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bThat era is over. From here on out I give you this commitment \u00e2\u20ac\u201d whether it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in Parliament, on the picket line, or in the streets, this Labour government will be with you.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Addressing protestors via video message, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hailed the mounting movement against austerity.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe austerity we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in is a political choice, not an economic necessity,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he said. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bAnd that political choice means the poorest in our society are paying the most. Our movement has to force this government to account and force onto the agenda a completely alternative political strategy \u00e2\u20ac\u201d an economy that works for all and not the few.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Pointing to the government being forced to climbdown on cuts to tax credits and disability benefits after strong public pressure, he said that the anti-austerity movement is quickly and effectively gaining ground both in the UK and across the developed world.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s really the power is in our hands to change things, to change society,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 Corybn noted. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s democratic power that will bring about that change \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s working.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Unite general secretary Len McCluskey marched on Saturday with a delegation of steelworkers from Port Talbot and across the UK who face the destruction of their entire industry of highly skilled jobs.<\/p>\n

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In his speech at the rally, McCluskey donned a Panama hat in reference to the explosive expose of the tax dodging schemes for the world\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s wealthiest, called the Panama Papers.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe only thing I have from Panama, Mr Cameron, is a hat,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 McCluskey said.<\/p>\n

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\u00e2\u20ac\u015bThe establishment shames our democracy,\u00e2\u20ac\u0165 he went on to say. \u00e2\u20ac\u015bIt is up to all of us \u00e2\u20ac\u201c trade unionists, students, pensioners, those in work and those not in work, working together, black and white, to send a clear message \u00e2\u20ac\u201c that we will fight, fight, fight for a better tomorrow.\u00e2\u20ac\u0165<\/p>\n

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Pic by Mark Thomas<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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