Here’s a video of the pensions strike march and rally held in Bristol yesterday.

With the government expected to bring forward legislation in the Queen’s Speech on 9th May to impose pension changes on the public sector, meaning workers will have to pay more, work longer and get less, the strike will be a clear message that people are prepared to fight this and force the government to back down!

This will be the largest co-ordinated industrial action since the historic November 30th strike which saw 2 million workers walk out and 20,000 demonstrate in Bristol alone.

There will be a lot of activity in Bristol and these unions are calling for support and solidarity. This can be sending messages of support from workplaces and union branches, taking a collection and bringing them down to picket lines. Pickets will be in the places listed below for people to go along and show support.

There will be two rallies:

Unite Health 10.30am outside the BRI which will march to
PCS Rally 11.30am Armada House, Telephone Ave., (off Baldwin St), Bristol BS1 4BQ

Picket lines:

Unite – Frenchay Hospital, Red Gate
07.30 – 10.30

Unite – Southmead Hospital, Monks Park Avenue
07.30 – 10.30

Unite – BRI
07.30 – 10.30

PCS – Bristol Magistrates Court, Marlborough St
07.30 – 10.30

PCS – Bristol County Court, 1 Redcliffe St
07.30 – 10.30

PCS – Bristol Crown Court, Small St.
07.30 – 10.30

PCS – North Somerset Court House & Central Fines Unit, The Hedges, St Georges, Worle
06.30 – 10.30

PCS – HMRC, Temple Quay House, Rivergate
06.30 – 10.30

PCS – MoD, Abbeywood
06.30 – 10.30

PCS
Bristol Central Job Centre, Eagle House
07.30 – 09.00

PCS
Easton Job Centre, Stapleton Rd
07.30 – 09.00

PCS
Kingswood Job Centre, Two Mile Hill Rd
07.30 – 09.00

PCS
Bristol Job Seekers’ Contact Centre, Lodge House, Fishponds Rd
07.30 – 09.00

PCS
Bristol Disability Benefits Centre, Flowers Hill, Brislington
07.30 – 09.00

PCS
Horfield Job Centre, Monks Park Rd
07.30 – 09.00

PCS – Weston Job Centre
07.30 – 09.00

PCS – Bath Job Centre (possibly)
07.30 – 09.00

PCS – Clevedon Job Centre (possibly)
07.30 – 09.00

UCU – City of Bristol College, College Green
07.30 – 10.00

UCU – City of Bristol College, Ashley Down Rd
07.30 – 10.00

View the facebook event for Bristol pickets here.

Last week saw Bristol’s May Day week of action take place, with protests and events held all week to mark International Workers Day and the struggle for working rights.

On Tuesday 1^st May, May Day itself, over 20 people gathered at the Fountains in the city centre to hold an information stall and to hand out leaflets briefly explaining the history and origins of May Day. This was used as an opportunity to advertise some of the events happening later in the week and to engage with people about May Day and its meaning and relevance today.

On Wednesday, around a dozen people went out to the Department of Work and Pensions facility in Brislington, to hold a picket against ATOS, the French IT company contracted by the government to carry out ‘health assessments’ for people on benefits. Their role is essentially to save the government money by kicking sick and disabled benefit claimants off of benefits and into jobs or onto Job Seekers Allowance. Placards were held and leaflets were given out to people going in and out.

Thursday saw a dozen people take part in an ‘anti-Workfare flash mob’ protest in Bristol city centre, picketing the stores of companies involved in the governments work placement schemes. Primark, Holland and Barrett and Wilkos were targeted, with hundreds of leaflets handed out and many members of the public stopping to chat, pledging their support and asking about how they could get involved.

Friday saw a brilliant talk by Bristol Radical History Group at Hydra Books, Old Market, about the Haymarket Massacre and subsequent Chicago May Days.

Saturday, the main event, saw hundreds of people take part in a ‘Save the NHS’ march organised by Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance. The march, in opposition to the privatisation & ‘marketisation’ of large parts of the NHS, left College Green shortly before midday. A fairly large Bristol IWW contingent marched behind our brand new banner, which made its debut appearance. The march made its way through the city centre before ending up back at College Green after 1pm, where a few more speeches were heard.

Many of our group then made it’s way to Hydra Books, for another great talk by Bristol Radical History Group, on the ‘Friends of Durruti’ and the Spanish Revolution of 1937. This was followed by discussion and debate, before many of crowd made it’s way to the pub to finish off the day.

Hats off to the Bristol 1^st of May Group and all of the other groups and individuals involved, for organising this week of action and making sure another May Day didn’t pass Bristol by without anything happening.

Save the NHS – Bristol May Day Demonstration & Rally

11am Saturday 5th of May

College Green

Bristol

The NHS is being dismantled and privatised by the Conservative & Liberal Democrat party, what does this mean to you, well watch this film to find out.

In response to these changes there is a Save the NHS demo in Bristol on May 5th 2012, meet at College Green at 11am.

We need to stop this bill being implemented for the sakes of not just our children, but our grand children, our grandparents and all the people in between. This truly is an issue that affects us all.

More information here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/397400083617115/
http://www.bristolanticutsalliance.org.uk/2012/04/05/save-the-nhs-badaca-demo…

For more information on the NHS bill and what is means for you, check out these sites:

http://www.keepournhspublic.com/index.php
http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/708075 – gives overview of act and links to good articles
http://falseeconomy.org.uk/resources/factsheet-5-things-you-need-to-know-abou… – TUC factsheet on the NHS bill

Headlines:

• General Strike, Mass Protests Engulf Europe
• Picket Against Unpaid Labor In Glasgow
• Polish Ironworkers Walk Out In Wildcat Strike

Features:

• Some Objections To Occupy May 1st
• Review: Who Bombed Judi Bari?
• Sex Workers: “We Ask For Solidarity, Not Salvation”

Happy May Day!

Click on link below

Industrial Worker – Issue.

News from the https://bristol1stofmay.wordpress.com/

Plans have changed, decisions have been made, more folks have got involved and we’re now going to have a whole week of actions and protests in Bristol to celebrate May Day, leading up to a large march and action on Saturday the 5th.
The following is a diverse range of events representing many struggles, or as we see it many facets of the same struggle; against oppression for a free and just society.

Also the next meeting of Bristol May First Group is this Friday 27th of April, 7pm upstairs at the stag & hounds on Old Market. Likely to be our last before May Day!

#BristolMayDay & Facebook

Monday April 30th
Anti Vivisection(animal testing) Noise Demo, meet 12pm at the Bear Pit in the centre (to move on to a target). Bring things to make some NOISE.

Tuesday May 1st
Mass call in sick or otherwise skip work/school day Since the state refuses to give us may 1st off, we should take it ourselves.

Possible morning action against the criminalisation of squatting TBC/stay tuned!

Spreading May Day Meet 3pm by the fountains in the centre to raise peoples concsiousness about May Day! Stalls, leaflets, chats, and some fun & food as well.

Wednesday May 2nd
Picket ATOS Help fight back against the governments attacks on people with disabilities. ATOS is the company paid to take away disabled peoples benefits! We shall be handing out advice leaflets to those attending interviews, and protesting against ATS. 2pm at Flowers Hill in Brislington.

Thursday May 3rd
Anti-Workfare Flash Mob! Be around the Centre of town at 12.30 then call our hotline or drop us a text in advance to find the target (number will be released nearer the time). Bring Prison clothes (or warden outfits) and prepare for some theatric direct action!

Friday May 4th
South West Against Nuclear Demonstration against a local supplier to the proposed new nuclear power station at hinkley.  It will take place at midday at over court barns, Almondsbury(BS32 4DF), which can be reached by Bus (309 from bristol centre), train (patchway station), bike (8 miles from Bristol),  or contact SWAN for lift shares from Bristol swanactive[at]gmail.com.

Saturday May 5th – the big one!
May Day March against the destruction of the NHS!  Organised with the Bristol & District Anti Cuts Alliance with union support. Gather from 11am on college green, the march will head through town to castle park.

Reclaim the beach Our bosses steal our time, the corporations steal our spaces and the state steals our holiday and hides our histroy! Its time for the workers to take it all back, beneath on top of the streets lies the beach.  Meet at the end of the anticuts march (12:30ish college green) and reclaim the streets of bristol. Bring hawaiian shirts, bermududa shorts, deck chairs, palm trees, BBQs and prepare for some anti-capitalist fun.

Industrial Worker – Issue #1744, April 2012