GMB Members Strike on 30th November 2011 in Yorkshire & North Derbyshire
29 Nov 2011
GMB members employed in the public services in Yorkshire will be taking strike action during their normal working hours during the period from 00.01 to 23.59 on 30th November 2011. This dispute was started by the coalition government in the expectation that those who work for us all in our public services could be bullied into accepting their diktat says GMB. There will be picket lines outside Town Halls and the main civic buildings across the region with GMB placards and banners from early morning on Wednesday where members on strike will be available for interview.
This strike action follows the vote by GMB members working in local government, the NHS and the civil service across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland who voted by more than 4 to 1 in favour of strike action to defend their pensions. The strike by GMB members is part of the national co-ordinated action by millions of public sector workers across the UK in 23 trades unions who face cuts in their pensions. There will be activity and picket lines in every town and city in the region. GMB members will be attending marches and rallies throughout the region and there will be feeder marches to the big events set out here.
Bradford - 11am in Centenary Square, Bradford 1. GMB local authority convenor Gary Nesbitt will be speaking.
Leeds - A rally will be held at Woodhouse Moor at 10.30 then a march from there to the regional TUC rally outside Leeds Art Gallery on the Headrow at 12 noon. GMB senior organiser for public services Neil Derrick to speak as well as GMB shop steward for education, Katherine Mayer.
Sheffield - There will be a march from Devonshire Green through
Sheffield City Centre starting at 10.45am to join the main rally at Barkers Pool from 12 noon. GMB Regional Secretary Tim Roache speaks along with John Stevenson, Sheffield City Council employee and lead GMB convenor.
Huddersfield March and Rally. Assemble from 10.30am at St George’s Square, Huddersfield HD1JS. 11am Town Centre March, returning
to St George’s Square.
Rotherham Assemble 10am at Rotherham Town Hall, 10.30am march to rally in All Saints Square, 11.15am board coaches to join main TUC rally in Sheffield.
York March Together to Defend Our Futures - assemble at Clifford’s Tower, York at 12pm. March across the city to rally at 1pm at York Minster.
Doncaster - Rally and march assembling at the Council House at 11am and marching to the Mansion House for the rally which will start at 12 noon.
Barnsley - Assemble Churchfields from 9:30am & march to Peel Square for rally at 10:00am.
Chesterfield - Assemble 11.00 am in Rykneld Square (in the shadow of the Crooked Spire) then march to the rally at Club Chesterfield ( Formerly Chesterfield Miners’ Welfare), Chester Street for 12.30.
Tim Roache, GMB Regional Secretary said, “Millions of public sector workers will be protesting about the government’s unfair and bullying attack on their pensions. This dispute was started by the coalition government in the expectation that those who work for us all in our public services could be bullied into accepting their diktat. The government lack the moral courage to now settle this dispute for fear of upsetting their right wing backbenchers and those on the lunatic fringe who attack worker’s rights.
This governments vocal erosion of public services and public sector workers rights is in marked contrast to their complete lack of action over the out of control bankers and the obscene levels of pay to directors in the boardrooms. It is about time that the government started to appreciate and praise public sector workers rather than attacking them, vilifying them and kicking them around.”