THANET'S HISTORIC BANNER TO GO ON LONDON MARCH

An historic banner created for trades unions in Thanet will take to see action again this Saturday (March 26h) in a national march against cuts to public services and public sector jobs.

The banner was designed for Thanet Trades Union Council in the 1970s by an artist based in Broadstairs.

After the Thanet TUC ceased operation, the banner was thought lost. But now the group, which promotes links between trade unions in Thanet, has been revived and the banner has been discovered, dusted down and got ready to go on the big march.

Filiz McNamara, a retired health worker living in Broadstairs, said she will be proud to walk behind the banner.

“It is an impressive piece of work, and will certainly make an impact. People from Thanet, whether they are trade unionists or not, should all feel good to walk behind this banner. It’s great news that the banner has been found and will be with us on the march.”

Filiz, a member of the Anti Cuts Thanet group, believes people across Thanet should come and join the march. She said: “The government cuts are going to hit the poorest parts of the country worst, so Thanet is going to be particularly badly affected.
“People working for the public sector are going to lose their jobs, but important public services are going to be lost or cut back

Anyone interested in getting involved in fighting the cuts can contact ACT at anticutsthanet@gmail.com or join the Anti Cuts Thanet Facebook group.

TEACHER WARNS OF THREAT TO THANET PUBLIC SERVICES

Thanet faces “irreparable damage” to its schools and other public services if the planned government cuts go ahead, according to teacher Wayne Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell, Secretary of the Thanet branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: “School funding is being cut in real terms. Our schools are likely to face big funding problems for the next four years.”

Mr Mitchell, who is due to speak at a public meeting in Broadstairs at 7pm on Wednesday March 16th March warned that as the cuts bite, key local authority services for the schools will be axed or reduced
He said: “Teachers and other public sector workers are being forced to pay for the damage caused by the banks, as bankers pay themselves huge bonuses.”

The meeting has been called by the newly revived Thanet Trades Union Council and the Anti Cuts Thanet Group in an attempt to organise resistance to government cuts in public services.

“There is an alternative to cuts and job losses,” said Mr Mitchell, “and we have to join together to persuade the government to change course.”

Also speaking at the meeting will be a representative from of the Public and Commercial Services Union, the fifth largest trade union in Britain. The PCS represents people working for many public sectors bodies, including Thanet Council.

Also speaking will be Anne Belworthy from the Pensioner's Forum to talk about the impact on older people of the cuts.

Thanet Trades Union Council recently took part in a demonstration in Canterbury against cuts in the National Health Service and more action is planned in the near future.
Meeting organiser John Flaig said: “The purpose of this meeting is to explain what we can do locally against the cuts and to promote the TUC’s National March for An Alternative on 26th March.”

The Anti-Cuts Meeting will be held at the Red Hall, 11 Grosvenor Road, Broadstairs at 7pm on Wednesday March 16th March.
Anyone interested in getting involved in fighting the cuts or making use of free transport to the March can contact ACT anticutsthanet@gmail.com or join the Anti Cuts Thanet Facebook group.