News
Public Service Cuts Campaign: 12 August Protest Activity
02/08/2010
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide further guidance to branches on the organisation of the activity on 12 August 2010.
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You will have already been advised that NIPSA branches have been asked to participate in lunch time protests outside workplaces as part of the unions campaign against public spending cuts. The purpose of this bulletin is to provide further guidance to branches on the organisation of the activity on 12 August.
- Branches are being issued with a supply of the leaflet which is designed to highlight the importance of the work that public servants undertake on behalf of the community in Northern Ireland. Please find attached a supply of leaflets. Branches which have already picked up the leaflets from NIPSA HQ can procure additional leaflets by contacting Aidan McDonnell at NIPSA HQ.
- The protests should take place during the lunch period and all members should be encouraged to participate. It is their jobs and terms and conditions, their livelihoods and those of their families which are under threat and it is essential that this message is conveyed to members.
- In order to ensure that the protests are as effective as possible branches can be supplied on request with NIPSA and cuts posters and placards. Branch representatives should ensure that the NIPSA posters are featured prominently during the lunch time activity.
- Depending on location branches should make arrangements to distribute the leaflets outside the workplace or at the place nearest to the workplace where members of the public will be passing or congregating. This could mean members proceeding to a main thoroughfare, main street or other such location to ensure the leaflet reaches as many members of the public as possible.
- Where possible branches should liaise with colleagues from other branches who may be organising similar protests and leafleting. Contact should also be made with the local Trades Council to generate support for the protest activity. NIPSA is writing to all trades councils alerting them to the protests and asking for support.
- The duration of the lunchtime protests is a matter for branches to determine, depending on local circumstances. The leafleting activity should preferably last for one hour at least but it is recognised that a shorter period may be more appropriate for some branches.
This initiative is an important part of the unions campaign to defend public services, jobs, pay and pensions and other terms and conditions of employment. We are facing into a period of unprecedented cuts in public spending which will have a major detrimental impact on all members and their families.
We need to convey the strong message to the public that these cuts are not inevitable and that there are alternative measures that can be taken to reduce the deficit. These alternatives involve investing in public services and the economy to safeguard jobs and increasing the tax take of government by means of a more progressive system of taxation which focuses on high earners, ie those earning over £100,000 as they should pay more tax and they can afford to do so. In addition over £120 billion is lost to the public purse annually as a result of a combination of tax evasion, tax avoidance and uncollected taxes. The government should be employing additional staff in HMRC to chase after this colossal amount of money which should be at the disposal of public services. It is the wealthy who benefit the most from these practices whereas ordinary PAYE workers pay their tax at source by direct deduction from wages and salaries. This situation is grossly unfair.
Finally if branches require any assistance or further information they should contact the relevant HQ Official or the NIPSA Information and Advice Unit.
Yours sincerely
BRIAN CAMPFIELD
General Secretary
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