The newly formed 'People Against Cuts' group, which aims to forge a non-partisan alliance of local trades unionists and public service users across the borough, has called for a Wigan Town centre rally on Saturday 31st July (1.00pm start) to protest against the huge public spending cuts likely in Wigan Borough area over the next two years and beyond.
They are appealing to everyone potentially affected, and who are opposed to the unprecedented cuts being imposed by the new Conservative-Lib-Dem coalition on local authorities and Government departments, to join them in their proposed 'open microphone' event at the junction of Wallgate/Market Street (opp. The Moon Under Water pub).
Speaking on behalf of the group, which includes leading members of UNITE the Union and PCS unions, members of UNISON and community activists from across the borough, Leigh UNITE Branch President, Stephen Hall said:
"This rally is our first street event and we hope people from across the Wigan borough will respond to our call. The huge cuts proposed will have a catastrophic effect on the lives of ordinary people, and might even as some suggest lead us into a massive 1930's style depression. The new Coalition Government has no mandate for them!
"What we are calling for is the building of a mass campaign of opposition to them. We want to help build a broad alliance of the people which fights for increased public investment in jobs and public services rather than cuts and which makes the bankers, big business and the super rich bear the burden of any 'necessary' austerity measures. This is our preferred economic and political way out of our country's current alleged Government budget deficit and sovereign debt 'crisis'.
"Unfortunately, the cuts likely in our area (up to £38 million for Wigan MBC alone in the next two years) mean nothing in monetary terms, or rather are completely abstract to most people. As a consequence it will only be when ordinary people start to feel the effects of these cuts on the ground, whether it be as a result of the closure of local libraries, the scrapping of free swimming, the senior citizen's free bus pass, cuts in funding to community groups, services for the unemployed and other claimants, or the loss of their own job and livelihood, will we begin to see the emergence of a huge trades union, community, borough and nationwide movement against the Government's whole public sector cuts agenda. Our group is currently laying the ground for such a broad grassroots up movement in the Wigan area which might help to put an end to and reverse these cuts on both national and as a consequence local level too."
The next meeting of PAC will be on Monday 26th July at: The Boulevard pub, 17 Wallgate WN1 1LD (Larger room than previous) 7.30pm start. All welcome.
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