| As Newcastle City Council announced £90 million pounds of cuts in November last year, the government thanked them by adding another £10 million cut to the Local Government settlement. This is the reward for cutting jobs and services - more cuts. The budget for Newcastle proposes to close all Play and Youth Services, over half the libraries, respite care for disabled children and young people, a resource centre for older people, continue to cut Connexions and other services to young including school transport and psychology services. Also included is the destruction of Sure Start to be reduced by 75% by 2015. The closure or sell off of most of the pools, sports centres and gyms in the city including the historic City Pool; closure of City Hall, and 100% cut in arts funding; reduction in parks and street cleaning, the list goes on. What's more is the loss of 1500 jobs does not just mean throwing thousands of workers on the dole and the families into poverty, but also means no jobs or prospects for school and college leavers. The picture across the region is just as bleak, although many councils have not published the proposed cuts for 3 years. We can say no, we are saying no. Tens of thousands have signed petitions; thousands have joined rallies and meetings, and taken part in consultation. Now thousands will march in Newcastle to say "Save Our Services - Stop the Cuts" Supported by Northern TUC, PCS, RMT, UNISON as well as Save Our Services, Save Play campaign, Anti Cuts Network, Save Newcastle Libraries, Coalition of Resistance, Youth fight for Jobs, NE Pensioners Convention and many, many more campaigns Speakers will be from users of Play and Youth Services, City Hall, Cheviot View and Castle Dene and the Libraries as well as front line workers, trade unionists including Paul Gilroy UNISON (NEC and Newcastle City Branch); Kevin McHugh PCS (Deputy President) and Steve Hedley RMT asst Gen Sec. Assemble 12 noon Centre for Life, Newcastle for march past services that face cuts including Arts, Pool, Libraries, City Hall and Civic Centre then down the busy Northumberland Street for Rally from 1.30pm with music and speakers. Don't miss out on this show of opposition and strength. Say No to the Cuts Join Us |