UNISONActive is an unofficial blog produced by UNISON activists for UNISON activists. Bringing news, briefings and events from a progressive left perspective.

Thursday 28 October 2010

Pensioners fight austerity‏

Addressing yesterday’s Westminster rally called by the National pensioners Convention (NPC) UNISON Deputy General Secretary Keith Sonnet urged the formation of a powerful alliance to fight the biggest-ever cuts in the welfare state: "In doing so, we will make sure that George Osborne, David Cameron and Nick Clegg become footnotes in history," he said. http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/96949

The NPC had mobilised pensioners from all over Britain to lobby Parliament in order to highlight concerns that the proposed cuts in public spending will have a disproportionate effect on millions of older people through loss of pension income, vital care services and other benefits such as the winter fuel allowance.

Labour MP and UNISON group member Kelvin Hopkins made a rousing speech stating: "This government has started a right-wing revolution which has to be reversed. I think we have got to take a look at the French. This is going to be a long hard fight, but in the end we are going to have to defeat this government, and defeat it we will."