Hi All
After a lull in activity over the festive period, there is plenty of campaigning, lobbying and demonstrating to be done in the first few weeks of 2011.
As mentioned in the previous bulletin it is important that as a group we are properly constituted and transparent which is why it is important that we have a constitution and bank account. The initial date for the Merseyside RtW AGM has had to change from 11th January to 26th January (details below in key dates). A proposed constitution will be sent out next week and any nomination received for positions on the steering committee.
Key dates for your diary
Councillor Fletcher (Labour) has tabled the following motion for discussion at the council meeting:
"This Council condemns the Coalition Government’s abolition of the Education Maintenance Allowance provision without providing an adequate substitute and calls upon them urgently to provide a realistic alternative. The removal of this allowance will severely damage the education and employment prospects of many of the most disadvantaged young people in St Helens at a time when they are already facing many other challenges. Because of those challenges it is essential that young people be supported in improving their prospects for education and training."
I think it is vital that we get as many people there from RtW to show that we support him and that a fightback is possible. I have emailed Councillor Fletcher to give him our support and I will also be contacting union reps in high schools and colleges in St Helens to get them to join us and get students there too. Furthermore on the St Helens council website Deputy council leader Councillor Grunewald has launched an attack on the Tory government and the local government spending cuts calling them "shameful" and "devastating".
Action: Assemble at St Helen's Town Hall, Victoria Square , St Helens , WA10 1HP
Merseyside Right to Work will be leading this but I hope there will be other groups there to support us.
The meeting will be mainly to ratify our constitution (to follow in later email) and to establish a steering committee. We need people to nominate themselves (or others if they agree) to sit on the steering committee and help with planning events, coordinating groups and generally helping out. The more people who are involved in the committee the less work there will be! There are also some named positions that need to be filled; treasurer, secretary, convenor, deputy convenor, publicity/media. If you would like to be involved in the steering committee in a general sense or as a specific position can you please email me by next Monday (11th January)? Also if you would like to put something on the agenda for the AGM let me know by Monday 11th Jan.
Convention called by Right to Work nationally to discuss strategies for campaigning and alternatives to cuts. Please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to go so that we can organise a delegation from Merseyside. For more information see: http://righttowork.org.uk/2010/11/peoples-convention/
National demonstration against the government's cuts organised by the Trades Union Congress. If you are in a union your union should be organising transport - please let us know what your union is doing. Merseyside Right to Work will also be organising transport for those not able to take advantage of union organised transport. There is also the possibility of organising an event on the same day in Liverpool for those people who are unable to travel to London . Please let me know if you would be interested in RtW transport or a Liverpool based event.
When they say cutback, we say fightback
In solidarity,
Debs Gwynn
Convenor, Merseyside Right to Work
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