Call for mass protests at anti-cuts rally

At a lunchtime rally in Guildhall Square today (Wednesday, September 29), trade unionists, clergy and members of the Voluntary and Community Sector issued stark warnings against swingeing cuts to the public sector, the details of which are to be made public in October.

In strong autumn sunshine, a several hundred strong crowd listened to several speeches that strongly condemned not only the cuts but the widespread harm it is estimated they will cause.

First on the platform was trade union activist and journalist Eamonn McCann who lambasted the proposed cuts to the public sector. Mr McCann warned that people should not regard protest against the proposals as just a matter for trade unions, but said that the implementation of the cuts would severely impact on every section of society.

Calling for people to stand in public against the cuts the veteran campaigner said: "People need to understand we are not in this alone, this does not just apply to trade unions. Every day lost to a public service worker is a day of service lost to working class communities."

Calling for mobilisation on a cross-community basis Mr McCann said that the protest was "not the end of something, but rather the beginning of a confrontation against this Tory led government. We need to send the message that the working class will not take this lying down."

Stating that an 'uncaring' Conservative administration cannot be negotiated with, Eamonn McCann also said: "The only sound they will listen to is the sound of marching feet."

Also speaking was former Irish community worker Michelle Hayden, who was representing the Community and Voluntary sector.

Stating that this sector deals with assessing the needs of people with regard to service provision she said society's most vulnerable would be most affected. She said after cutting through the reams of figures received on the proposed cuts Michelle Hayden said that in basic terms what they meant was "that for every 100 received in benefits, 20 would be cut from it."

"We need to make sure that these cuts do not happen, but if they do happen then they need to be managed effectively. We need to take a stand to protect the people we are supposed to protect."

Strong words also came from Alison Miller of the union NIPSA who appealed to Northern Ireland's politicians to use their influence to halt the cuts.

"If they do not, then we will not forget this when the election comes," she said.

The NIPSA leader also hit out at the apparently prevailing attitude that the cuts were inevitable. And, she bolstered the power of campaigning by telling those at the rally: "Do not get despondent about this. Remember the Poll Tax. That was overturned and these cuts can be overturned too."

The rally, organised by Derry Trades Council also heard from Unite Regional Secretary, Gareth Scott, who attacked the government for planning to implement cuts in order to facilitate the lifestyle of bankers and financiers.

Liam Gallagher of Derry Trades Council also appealed for mass mobilisation in Belfast city centre on October 23 when a large demonstration is planned. He said that free buses will leave Londonderry on that morning the details of which will be released shortly.

Clerical support was also in evidence at the protest. Reverend David Latimer from First Derry Presbyterian Church sent apologies for not attending the rally but sent a message stating that he would be on the platform on future occasions.

Addressing the crowd Fr Paddy O'Kane of Ballmagroarty stated his moral objections to the cuts. he said: I am here to protest against poverty. As a Christian it is an affront that there is poverty amongst us."

The priest recounted instances of people coming to him in his own parish unable to make ends meet and told how people have told him that Social Services have referred them to charitable organisations such as St Vincent de Paul because they were unable to provide help.

The city's MP, Mark Durkan of the SDLP also attended the rally with Mayor Colum Eastwood and other SDLP councillors.

In a statement released after the rally, the former SDLP leader said: "Cuts to public services will hurt those who depend on those services, those who deliver those services, and our local economy.

"Deficit reduction should not mean reduction or removal of essential public services.

"That was the course chosen in the coalition government's budget which I spoke and voted against in the House of Commons.

"Health, schools, housing, policing and infrastructure taking heavy cuts is no answer to the economic damage which the banking crisis created.

"Those who work hard to deliver public services and pay their taxes and all of us who rely on those services are worried, frustrated and getting angrier.

"People see the economic and ethical contradiction in government saying that taxpayers have to bail out the banks after their excesses and failures, and now saying that we have to pull the plug on key services which are vital to the fabric of society and provide much of the economic lifeblood in this region."