Page 23 of 36
Previous Page     Next Page        Smaller fonts | Larger fonts     Go back to the flash version

Page 23


NEWS • VIEWS • INFORMATION • ADVICE


(...Continued from page 22)

•Demonising public services and public service workers;
•Attacking students by cutting the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and tripling tuition fees.

“This Coalition has been in office for just ten months and these have been ten months of relentless cuts and reform, attacking our public services and welfare state,” she told the thousands gathered in Hyde Park.

“None of these reforms are about tackling the deficit, they are all about this Government’s illogical contempt for public services.”

There is a viable alternative to this misguided strategy, Ms Keates told the crowd, calling for the introduction of a Robin Hood Tax on the banks to ensure that those who caused the financial meltdown pay for their mistakes.

She also urged the Prime Minister to pay heed to the strength of opposition to his Government’s policies, saying, “You have told leaders in the Middle East to listen to their people. Well, David Cameron, it’s time to listen to what your people are saying.”

Ms Keates concluded by paying tribute to the dedication and solidarity shown by those who chose to join the march, a point echoed by Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, who called on marchers to continue to make their voices heard in the ongoing fight against the cuts.

“We need to stay strong, united and determined. Change is coming and we are going to win and deliver it. Let’s go from here to get this Government to change its course.”

It is vital that the fight for the alternative does not stop here and continues for the rest of 2011 and beyond.

Keep visiting the NASUWT website for further information on our Championing Education campaign at www.nasuwt.org.uk/ChampioningEducation

More photos from the day can be found at www.flickr.com/nasuwtunion


AND THE CUTS KEEP COMING…

The impact of the Coalition Government’s savage package of cuts continues to be felt across the UK.

So far, over 130,000 jobs in the education sector are at risk, with redundancies being made to both teaching and support staff. The impact of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate, with its increased focus on a much narrower range of subjects, is yet to be felt, but could add to the toll as schools come under pressure to reduce staff numbers in non-core subjects.

It is not just at school level; local authorities are feeling the impact of their reduced budget settlements. Further education institutions, careers advice services, youth centres and libraries are also all reporting closures and massive cuts in their services and staffing. These cuts all impact on education and children’s ability to learn.

To see the latest update on where the cuts are happening, visit the TUC’s False Economy website at www.falseeconomy.org.uk.


Why I marched-jobs

Nicola Brown, teacher, Manchester

“The cuts are not going to affect just public sector workers, but everyone. We need to learn from the past; history has shown that if you put money into public services it generates jobs in the private sector. Cutting the BSF programme has hit jobs in the construction industry so these reforms are just having a huge impact and it’s really worrying.”


Why I marched - redundancies

Sue Lister, teacher, Durham

“The scale of the cuts on education is terrifying and is having such a huge impact on us already. We have had redundancies in my school because our budget has been slashed. I am really angry at what this Government is doing to education.”


Why I marched - pensions

Liam Murray, NQT – Hartlepool

“I have just started as an NQT and I feel I already pay as much as I can afford for my pension without it going up even further. We already have a pay freeze and the cost of living is going up, so if I have to pay more for my pension as well I will be really struggling.”


Previous arrowPrevious Page     Next PageNext arrow        Smaller fonts | Larger fonts     Go back to the flash version
1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6  |  7  |  8  |  9  |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14  |  15  |  16  |  17  |  18  |  19  |  20  |  21  |  22  |  23  |  24  |  25  |  26  |  27  |  28  |  29  |  30  |  31  |  32  |  33  |  34  |  35  |  36