Save over-75 TV licence demo - Liverpool

Opposing "Tommy Robinson" in EU elections

Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, alias Tommy Robinson, is standing in the North West section of the EU elections. He only needs 8% to be elected. Merseyside dates from Tommy Robinson's website:

• 9th May - St. Helens Thatto Heath - 7:00PM - WA9 5QQ
• 12th May - Birkenhead Beechwood - 5:00PM - CH43 7ZU - local campaigners have set up a What's App group and plan to meet up at that postcode at 2pm.
• 19th May - Liverpool Bootle - 1:00PM.
• 19th May - Liverpool Stockbridge - 5:00PM - L28 1ST.

There are some WhatsApp groups organising counter-protests. We will update you if we get any firmer information.

Please note: the organisers of these protests have suggested not putting this information on Facebook or other public social media for security reasons.

ARMS at school strikers' climate change and Justice for HMRC Cleaners demonstrations

ARMS members attended two demonstrations in Liverpool yesterday: the school strike against climate change at St George's Hall at 11.00 am, and the HMRC cleaners demonstration in Derby Square at midday. By the end of the latter, the school students had marched through the city centre for a rally, also in Derby Square, and thus the two demos met.

Any politicians who try to get publicity by calling those young people truants should remember that very few MPs turned up for a recent House of Commons debate on climate change. As far as I know none of the school strikers are on £77,379 per year, unlike MPs who can apparently skive off work without penalty.

School strike against climate change demo

Windswept ARMS members at the school strike

Two unlikely school strikers

A young demonstrator displays one of the many pertinent slogans

Some very youthful campaigners and big smiles

"There's no Planet B"

"System change not climate change"

It was a good humoured, but not trivial, protest

Other species added their voice

Over to Derby Square and the Justice for HMRC cleaners rally

The ARMS NW banner supporting Justice for HMRC cleaners

Group photo of the HMRC cleaners' demo

Chris Baugh, PCS Assistant General Secretary, addresses the HMRC rally

Attentive demonstrators listening to the speeches

Keith Hebron of ARMS with Chris Baugh

The AGS pledges full PCS support for the cleaners' dispute

Tony Mulhearn of ARMS addresses the rally in his capacity as representative
of the Merseyside Pensioners Association. Tony later went on to address the
school strikers' climate change rally

Says it all - not asking for riches, but fairness

HMRC cleaners public demo - 15 March

An HMRC cleaners picket line in July 2018

There will be a public demo in Liverpool on 15 March hosted by Justice for HMRC Cleaners.

The event organisers state: "Cleaners working at HMRC are fighting for a living wage of £10 per hour, occupational sick pay and better holidays. Join us to make some noise in Derby Square, outside two of the offices these low-paid workers clean. All supporters welcome - bring flags and banners!"

Full details:

• Friday, 15 March 2019.
• 12:00-13:00.
• Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, Derby Square, Liverpool.
• Event Facebook page - here.

ARMS Members are encouraged to show their support for fellow PCS members by attending this hour-long event.

Miners' pension fund demo

Further to the post here on 31 August about the ongoing theft from the miners' pension fund, here are details of a demo in Liverpool on the issue on 27 September. There's also a petition here.

PCS Bulletin - help & support requested

The help of ARMS members is asked for the following campaigns:

• Protect Chorley and South Ribble Hospital from Cuts and Privatisation

WE NEED YOUR HELP to demonstrate outside these hospitals for 1 hour from 10.00 a.m. on Saturday 17th September to protect your local A&E: 

Preston, Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Blackpool, Lancaster.

Our campaign was given the bad news that Chorley and South Ribble Accident and Emergency department will be closed until April 2017; we believe this is a move to close it indefinitely. The effect of this is rippling out to A&Es in other areas. This isn't good for other A&Es and the people they are intended to serve. It is having a negative effect on the North West Ambulance Service, some ambulances are queuing for hours to hand over sick or injured people.

Ask yourself these questions: If not me then who? If not now, then when? The NHS will survive as long as there are people willing to protect it. We are those people.

To help contact: Andrew Birchall on andrewbirchall3@gmail.com or mobile 0784 0202 084.

• March for the Liverpool Women’s Hospital 

25th September 2016 – Assemble at the Women’s Hospital at midday and walk to the water front.

The Liverpool Women’s hospital is a 20 year old world class hospital on a good site. It’s the largest maternity hospital in Europe and cares for more than 50,000 patients a year. Its future is under threat because of inadequate maternity funding, lack of investment, funding problems for all the NHS and the rampant privatisation and market focus of the NHS.

Follow ‘Save Liverpool Women’s Hospital’ on Facebook, Save-Liverpool-Womens-Hospital or email SaveLWH@outlook.com.

• Conservative Party Conference Demonstration 

Sunday, 2nd October 2016 – Assemble in Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BD at 11.30 a.m.

Austerity has failed! Join the Midlands TUC’s march and rally to tell the Government that austerity isn’t working. Please let PCS NW know if you wish to attend. Please email: nwrc@pcs.org.uk

Don't Bomb Syria - petition & demo

Lobby your MP to vote against UK military action in Syria. Click here.

There will be a vigil and leafleting session to support Stop the War's Don't Bomb Syria campaign in Church Street (by Primark) in Liverpool city centre at 11.00 am Saturday 28 November. 

Please come and show support.

Refugees welcome here - Liverpool demo

It is tragic that it has taken the sight of a a drowned toddler washed up on a beach to make some people - including this government - wake up. Our government's response might be too little and very late, but it's not too late, as the humanitarian crisis shows no sign of letting up. Whether the Tories have been motivated by compassion, or the political expediency of responding to overwhelming public opinion, is neither here nor there. The important point is they were forced to change direction.

There is a demonstration that refugees are welcome here in Liverpool at midday this Saturday 12 September by St Lukes 'bombed out' Church at the top of Bold Street and Renshaw Street. Facebook page for the event here.

There is also a petition to Government: "Accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants in the UK. There is a global refugee crisis. The UK is not offering proportional asylum in comparison with European counterparts. We can't allow refugees who have risked their lives to escape horrendous conflict and violence to be left living in dire, unsafe and inhumane conditions in Europe. We must help." You can sign here.

Demo against the "White Man March"

TUC march & rally to Tory Conference

As you may know, the Conservative Party conference will be taking place in Manchester from 4 to 7 October 2015, and the TUC are organising a national march and rally, which is set for Sunday 4 October 2015.

The PCS North West Regional Centre (NWRC) is exploring the provision of coaches to Manchester from Blackpool, Preston and Liverpool. Once arrangements for the demo have been confirmed, NWRC will formally request details of those definitely planning to attend the march and rally, via a further NW Briefing. In the meantime, NWRC is asking branches to consult their members and reps in order to gather these details and help facilitate the organisation for the event.

ARMS members in Merseyside who are interested in going, please contact us here.

Post-budget demo in Liverpool 8 July

A few photos. Click on them to enlarge them.

Williamson Square: you can just make out a young woman's placard
that reads: "I'm a little upset".

Chalking slogans on the square

This bus tried to ease his way through by the demo but by this point has given up

Budget Day Protests

Find a protest near you here.

Liverpool: 5pm in Williamson Square today.

If you're not in London on the 20th ...

Anti-austerity conference in Manchester

Support victimised PCS reps in the National Gallery

Saturday 30 May: rally in support of victimised PCS reps in the National Gallery. Assemble at 1.00pm in Trafalgar Square, London - click here for full details.

Please sign the petition demanding the reinstatement of Candy Udwin here.

Oppose privatisation of the National Gallery here.

Transport may be available: phone PCS on 0151 298 3900.

Two anti-austerity demos

ARMS Merseyside have asked whether there will be transport for ARMS members

Closer to home: