GET THE VOTE OUT – VOTE YES FOR STRIKE ACTION ON PENSIONS (for those who have not already balloted)
The first meeting of the HOOPS Steering Committee met briefly on Friday morning to try to pull together what was likely to happen locally on 30th November.
Not all of the unions involved were represented at the meeting but the following actions came out which we hope will be acceptable to all:
We hope there will be at least 4 strike rallies on the 30th in Surrey. It was felt these should all be around 11am to allow time for individual unions to picket in the morning and also to allow time for those who want to go to the London rally (details to follow). We discussed the possibility of staggering the rallies but felt there would not be enough time to do this. We need to be in constant communication to ensure at least 2 or 3 local union speakers available at each rally. This is the time for newer people to step forward.
We are asking specific unions/groups to take the lead for organising each rally. Please reply to confirm or otherwise if your union/group is able to organise one of the following on 30th November and also let us know if there are any other plans/ideas. This would basically mean sorting out the time and a venue (non-public sector of course) and deciding if you will be marching ( in which case liaising with the police and highways).
Ideally, we would like as much of this organised and set up as possible by 3rd November so we can produce joint union (HOOPS) flyers advertising all the Surrey rallies and marches as soon as key ballot results are known.
RALLIES on the day
Kingston (UNISON and Kingston anti-cuts group) – UNISON have agreed to organise this with Kingston Against the Cuts
Woking (PCS) – PCS have agreed to organise this (any support welcomed)
Redhill/Leatherhead (UCU and Redhill anti-cuts group) – can UCU and Redhill please confirm if this is okay?
Camberley (NUT) – We are hoping that NUT can follow up on their magnificent organising in June by organising something again in Camberley. Please can NUT confirm?
Of course there are many other unions involved and we would appreciate any offers of help in organising these events and any other strike rallies and events (in Guildford, Spelthorne, Epsom?)…
We are asking every union and anti-cuts group to circulate ALL HOOPS events amongst their members so there is a range of joint union activity near to them on the day which people can choose to attend.
We would also like to see some pre-strike meetings, rallies, street stalls, street theatre and events. We are more than happy to circulate information if you or your union/group want to organise anything. At the HOOPS steering committee it was felt this should be left open to individual affiliates rather than try to organise centrally (but we will circulate details of anything organised locally). At present we only know of early plans for a pre-strike rally in Kingston.
The next meeting of the Save Our Services in Surrey Steering Committee (open to all) will be the first of the newly elected committee from our AGM. This will be on Monday 31st October at 7pm in the Trinity Methodist Church, Brewery Road, Woking GU21 4LH (NOT the Maybury Centre as previously advertised).
Obviously a key agenda item will be the pensions dispute and 30th November, pulling together what has been organised thus far. We would ask all HOOPS activists and the elected committee to try to attend or make sure your union is represented.
LASTLY – BUT NOT LEAST – IT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL TO START TO COLLATE A LIST OF WORKPLACES WHICH WILL DEFINITELY HAVE A PICKET. THIS WOULD ENABLE UNIONS TO CIRCULATE THESE DETAILS FOR ANY MEMBERS WHO WANT TO SUPPORT THE STRIKE LOCALLY BUT WHO DO NOT HAVE A PICKET AT THEIR OWN WORKPLACE (FOR WHATEVER REASON). PLEASE SEND DETAILS TO SOSIS SO WE CAN BUILD A CENTRAL LIST FOR CIRCULATING NEARER THE DAY.
