Hastings Anti-cuts campaigners call rally and march to support pension cut strikes.

On Wednesday 30 November, the main teaching, civil service and local government unions are due to strike against pension cuts. Unions say these cuts will leave the average worker paying a month’s extra salary a year in exchange for a smaller pension starting after years more work – all to cut a deficit created by the bailing out of banks, the tax evasion of large corporations and the constant funnelling of public money into private hands via privatisation, PFI and the endless hiring of “management consultants” to make the decisions managers are already being paid to deal with.

Hastings and District Trades Council, backed by Hastings Against The Cuts, is organising a march against the cuts and in support of these strikes, assembling at 11.30 am at Hastings Pier, before marching to the town centre for a rally with speakers from unions and community groups.

A spokesman from Hastings Against The Cuts told Hastings Online Times: “This is a vital opportunity to say to this government that we do not support these cuts, that we do not accept the necessity for them and that we will not tolerate the impoverishment of our town and the destruction of our public services in the name of “responsibility” while the rich and powerful continue to be untouched by the crisis they created.

“It’s really important that we all support this strike; not only because of the impact that the pension cuts will have on public sector workers but because it will have a direct impact on the economy of Hastings and because this is industrial action against the austerity measures that Hastings Against The Cuts was formed to oppose. Please join us, please spread the word to your colleagues, family and friends.”

The rally in the town centre will include speakers from local union branches, community groups and individuals affected by the cuts. Any union or group that would like to have a speaker at the rally which isn’t already booked get in touch. Hastings Against The Cuts has a website and regular stalls every Saturday at Wellington Place from 11am to 1pm.

Also in: Campaigns