Greens marching for a Future that Works

Party Leader Natalie Bennett and Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas will head the march in London on Saturday, joining union members, Party activists and thousands of others to demand A Future That Works.

The march has been organised by the Trades Union Congress in protest against the Coalition government’s economic policies and to call for a new focus on investment to spark economic recovery.

Like the TUC, the Green Party opposes the ideologically motivated cuts which are hitting public services, taking support away from society’s most vulnerable, and leaving a generation of young people unable to find work.

The policies are also failing to deliver the single achievement to which the government claims it is dedicated – instead of reducing the deficit by 4.6 per cent as promised, nearly two and a half years of austerity measures forced it to grow by 22 per cent between April and August of this year.

Green Party Leader Natalie Bennett said:

“We’re marching with hundreds of thousands of others to give the government the message that we have to invest in the future.

“The government can’t continue with its economically illiterate cuts – we must invest in decent homes, renewable energy, public services, public transport and the infrastructure we need to bring manufacturing back to Britain.

“We must also restore food production systems within this country. All of these things are urgent, and need investment and planning to deliver.

“And this investment must be used to assist young people in finding fulfilling and worthwhile work. The Princes Trust has revealed that the number of young people in the UK out of work for more than two years has increased by 168 per cent since February 2008 .

“Our young people are doing all the right things to secure a job and future, but we’re not doing right by them.”

The march leaves Victoria Embankment at 11am, and will end with a rally at Hyde Park - London Greens will be meeting at Temple tube station at 10am. For more information please see our events page. It's time David Cameron recognises that "Green is Working"

Green Party members will be bringing local party banners and placards and will be joined by the banners of the Green Party Trade Union Group and Green Left.

A message from Paul Kenny about October 20th

I will be marching with Green Party colleagues on Saturday but non-Green Party readers may be interested in joining this contingent:

Dear Martin 


Over the last 2 years we have seen one of the worst ideological attacks on our country and our economy with the governments failed austerity plan.

The economy is not growing, incomes are not rising and the gap between the richest and poorest in society is growing.

On top of all that this week the government attacked our employment rights in their Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. A bill that is designed to protect business from third party harassment claims, that makes it easier for businesses to fire people and reduces protections for whistleblowers at work.
They have got it the wrong way round – they are protecting businesses not workers.
 TULO
It is time for us to demand a better plan to protect our jobs, our rights and our futures. This Saturday TULO are marching for an alternative to this governments failed plan – we are going out to make sure that people know there is a different way.

Will you join us on Saturday? Click here to join http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/signup/we-re-marching-for-a-future-that-works---march-with-us
TULO will be assembling just outside Blackfriars station from 11.15am. The march will go along embankment and up to Hyde Park where there will be a rally organised by the TUC.

We need to show everyone that austerity is not the only way. We need to make it clear that we need a new plan that includes jobs, that protects our rights at work and that ensures the future of our NHS.

We need you on Saturday to make it clear that millions of people are not happy with this Tory-led government. So please sign up here http://www.unionstogether.org.uk/page/signup/we-re-marching-for-a-future-that-works---march-with-us

I look forward to seeing you soon.
Paul
Paul Kenny
Chair of TULO

Shared Public Health post ditched but Executive goes ahead with Barnet privatisation plans

The plans for a shared Director of Public Health with the London Borough of Hounslow were withdrawn this week by Brent Council.  The plans which were due to go before the Executive on Monday had encountered opposition from Labour councillors on the Brent Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee. They had passed a resolution expressing concern over the plans. LINK

However a far reaching plan for a four borough out-sourcing of waste management, recycling, street cleaning and parks maintenance was approved by Brent Executive. The notorious  right-wing, privatising,  Barnet Council will become Labour Brent's partner in a move that will lead to job losses. The Barnet Chief Executive recently left the council apparently unable to stomach their policies any longer.

The Executive's decisions can be found HERE

Flaming Hell! We don't want this up our Junction!

Photo: Ealing Times

Residents from Harlesden in Brent and Park Royal in Ealing converged on Willesden Junction station on Saturday to protest against plans to build an incinerator/anaerobic digester at the Willesden Junction Freightliner Depot.

The Ealing Times LINK reported that residents were opposed to Clean Power's plans, especially as they have already been fighting for clear air since the nearby Power Day Recycling Waste plant opened.

The Ealing Times reports:

Mark Walker, 48 of Stoke Place Road, said: “It’s only over the last couple of years, with the Environment Agency working with Powerday’s management and local residents, reporting smells and incidents, that we’ve got anything like acceptable levels of odour. People aren’t happy about it.”

He is concerned the area will face a further problem of unwanted smells from Clean Power’s development, on the opposite side of Old Oak Lane to the recycling plant.

“People feel like they are hemmed in, like we’re almost a dumping ground for these big factories,” he said.

Despite the short period before the plans go to Ealing Planning Committee in November, Brent Council has said that it will review the environmental impact of the proposed plant on Brent residents; its impact on road conditions particularly in and around Harlesden town centre, and its strategic impact on the regeneration of the wider Park Royal/Old Oak Area in relation to the possible HS2 link station. Following the review they will send a response to Ealing Council.


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