A public meeting has been arranged by Hackney Right to Work, which is part of a national campaign, to piece together a picture of potential job losses in Hackney and discuss ways of fighting back.
POLITICIANS are being urged to stand up to government cuts and protect the predicted 1,000 jobs under threat in Hackney.
A public meeting has been arranged by Hackney Right to Work, which is part of a national campaign, to piece together a picture of potential job losses in Hackney and discuss ways of fighting back this week.
The group will also launch its pamphlet Defending the Welfare State to suggest ways to oppose the cuts.
Gareth Jenkins of Hackney Right to work said: “MP Diane Abbott has highlighted how �44 million worth of cuts will be made to Hackney Council – one of the most deprived boroughs in the country. This is almost a 15 per cent cut – nearly double the 8.9 per cent cut the government has said the council will have to undergo.”
He said: “Hackney is a very poor borough. The cuts can only mean loss of jobs and loss of services. The purpose of the meeting is to say to the council you don’t have to go along with it. There is always a choice in these matters. This is a political decision.”
Speakers at the meeting include Labour MP Katy Clark who represents North Ayrshire and Arran, Marieke Muller, who studies at Kings College, which was occupied last year as part of the protests against attacks on higher education RMT regional organiser Steve Hedley.
The co-ordinator of the Stoke Newington based Refugee Workers Cultural Association Ibrahim Avcil, and Hackney resident, Sean Vernell, who is on the national executive of the college lecturers’ union, the UCU and co-author of the pamphlet, Defending the Welfare State.
Mr Jenkins said: “Massive amounts of money have been found for the bankers and massive amounts of money have been found for the war. Why not fund the deficit that way?”
All are welcome to the meeting which starts at 7.30pm on Thursday January 20 at Abney Public Hall in Stoke Newington Church Street.
Organisers say they hope that people will unite to fight back against the cuts and challenge the proposed job cuts.
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