Network X Gathering

You might want to know about this.

On 15th and 16th January we are calling a gathering for all networks and individuals that are oppositional, non hierarchical and opposed not only to the cuts, but to capitalism itself.
…
Across the country local groups have sprung up, and networks have worked together to pull off some amazing protests, but we want to go further… From peoples kitchens to action medics, action support to workshops.

If we would like to see anger around The Cuts over the next few years become strong movements then it is not only necessary to establish this infrastructure, but to base them in a wider discussion – we will hopefully be inviting delegates from occupations and actions across the country to this end.

We know this work is going on and those involved in calling it are already doing some. We hope to provide a space for co-ordination, planning and discussion.

At Network X gathering we hope that we can work out

*A Name!
*An organisational philosophy (to be open to change, but based around the things we already share)
*Guiding principles

and hopefully then can get down to the business of sorting out getting everyone on the work at hand. We’ll take proposals, plans, shout outs, and maybe sort out working groups potentially around the following;

Legal Support
Media
Action Support
Peoples Kitchens
Picket Support
Outreach/Publicity
Workshops/Skill shares
Admin/meetings/Proposals groups

None these need exist as working groups, and certainly not to replace existing networks, but can provide co-ordination and a space to not only share ideas but to take collaborative action and share resources and skills.

We invite the following networks especially to attend – though all organisations and people who value autonomy, decentralised organisation, and opposing oppression in all forms are welcome.

Climate Camp
Stop Racism and Fascism Network
UKUNCUT
No Borders
Anti-militarist Network
Defend Welfare (Local coalitions against poverty)
UKunCut
NINJA
AFED
General Assemblies/People’s Assemblies
Autonomous Students Network
Sol-Fed So We Stand
Seeds for Change
Radical Routes
WAG

We don’t want to create another talking shop and we reject sectarianism and all party politics. Rather we seek to have an open and inclusive process, that really facilitates working more closely including the use of working groups and consensus decision making towards practical outcomes. We think its important that we can link up local groups and take immediate direct action and working towards doing so on a large scale including; industrial action, blockades, occupations, land grabs, civil disobedience, rent strikes, etc, etc…

We respect autonomy and find unity though diversity and solidarity with other anti-capitalist struggles in the UK and internationally.

We hope to establish a network that will allow libertarians to co-ordinate and support each others struggles.

Communication
All communication will go through our more secure email address, ninjaction@riseup.net and you are welcome to join the mailing list leading up to the gathering here.

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/networkx

or contact NINJA or facebook if you are struggling.

this way you can get updates on the gathering practicalities, and post the gathering on UK wide updates, though you will also be able to unsubscribe at any point.

Travel – There will a travel pool at the event, where we will encourage donations for people who can’t afford travel, or struggle to cover costs. This will be all in the spirit of mutual aid, so if you have a job and some spare cash please bring with in thinking of all of those (like 6th formers, the disabled, elderly, jobless, etc) that struggle economically to engage in this kind of gathering.

Accommodation IMPORTANT
We now have a central crash space sorted, however spaces will be limited, so please let us know if you need accommodation for the night of Saturday 15th (or potentially Friday the 14th, though this will be very limited) as soon as possible, and only if you don’t already know someone in Manchester that could put you up.
Please put in the title of your email CRASH SPACE – to ninjaction@riseup.net – with the number of people that definitely need space.

At the moment there is still plenty of space, though we need to know if you’re coming asap. If you want to make your own arrangements we suggest

http://hattersgroup.com/ – Mad Hatters hostel City Centre

http://www.couchsurfing.org/ – for free places to crash across the city

The Landsdowne Hotel in Fallowfield – http://www.booking.co/landsdowne

Gathering Details

On Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of January. There are eateries all around including a vegan cafe and food, sadly we will not be able to provide food for so many, but there are many options on the door step.

The gathering will START at 10.30 am (please arrive for quarter past to get seats) both days and finish (ideally) by 5.30 on each day. No later than 6!

Local anti cuts groups, occupations and networks
If you are involved in a particular group, network, or student occupation then we would like to hear from you! We would like to have a series of short presentations to kick the gathering off so we can hear what has been going on around the country and learn from the successes and mistake that have been made so far.
If you are interested please send an email titled PRESENTATION to ninjaction@riseup.net with details of your group, experience and what you’d like to talk about.

Kids Space
We need people to help with a kids space. If you are up for helping, or you are bringing kids then please let us know. Email ninjaction@riseup.net with KIDS SPACE in the title.

Agenda
This will be clarified more closer to the time, but will have this essentially loose framework to allow time for in depth discussion and proposal formulation.

***DAY 1***

^^Agenda

***Saturday Morning
3 hours
Political discussion en masse – reports back from anti cuts groups, occupations, networks
Space to break down and discuss organisational lessons, put agenda points, strategy for action, political philosophy points.

***Sat Afternoon
3 hours
time to formulate decisions and proposals – working groups, small groups and large plenary all to be used.

***Sun Morning
3 hours
Make decisions

***Sun Aft
3 hours
Work out implementation of decisions.

Network administration
Ideally we’d like to set up at least one group and that would be to organise network administration (emailing, minutes, agenda setting, gatherings, call outs, etc) that will be as democratic as possible. The suggestion will be for rotating spokespeople, nominated from each of the different regions to take on the role for 6 months at a time, but this is just a suggestion at this time. How we do it can and should be decided together at the time.

Proposals
If you are interested in making proposals in one of the three key discussion areas then email ninjaction@riseup.net with one of the three titles below

PROPOSAL ORGANISATIONAL – how we should organise ourselves, what methods and structures should we use.
PROPOSAL POLITICAL – political philosophy – what do we believe and want to say to the wider world.
PROPOSAL STRATEGY – Strategy for action and creation. What actions do we want to take to fight the cuts and the system in general. Why? How?

We will put these proposals together into a pack for the weekend and they will be used as some of the basis of discussion on the first day (ideally introduced by the facilitator or proposer in the afternoon – though we will have to see logistically if that is possible), and will help guide the creation of proposals to be decided upon on the second.
PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THEM LONG! Ideally 250 words max, absolutely no longer than 500 words.
We will bring together proposals that are similar, though not lose their originality or original authors.

LASTLY
We are doing this out of deep feeling of love and a desire for freedom and equality for all beings. We are obviously as fallible as anyone, so probably have made, and will continue to make, some mistakes. We are chuffed to bits with everyone who wants to get on this so please bare with us and also approach each other (and us!) with the same respect and love as you wish to see in the world. In the struggle to create a better society this is just the beginning…

See you there!

NAG supports Manchester Airport on Trial

On 24 May 2010, 17 people shut down Manchester Airport to demonstrate opposition to its proposed expansion which would see two family homes being demolished. They were arrested that day and their trial begins next week. Network Action Glasgow supports the brave action taken by the protesters and has sent the following message to MAoT:

Network Action Glasgow express our support for the 17 people who stood up to the aviation industry at Manchester Airport on Monday 24 May 2010. While airlines enjoy tax relief on fuel, our households are being hit by a hike in VAT rates and fuel costs; while aviation shareholders toast their profits, our communities endure noise and air pollution in our doorsteps; while airports expand, they swallow our neighbourhoods and destroy our homes.

Our communities bear the worst of the aviation industry while having least access to its products; both airport expansion and climate change disproportionately affect women, people of colour and the poorest in society. We appreciate and stand in solidarity with those who took action against the expansion of Manchester Airport and the devastation it continues to wreak on our local and global communities.

If anyone else would like to express solidarity with the activists, you can email manchesterairportontrial[at]gmail.com with your message or learn about other ways to support them here.

Fact sheet: Scottish education and the cuts

In time for the national student walk-out, NAG have produced a handy guide to the Scottish cuts in education, how they will affect teachers, lecturers, students and pupils, and what can be done about them:

Download Scottish Education and The Cuts

As always, comments and feedback are welcome.

References:

• http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/after-the-budget-the-big-questions-1.1069824
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11766040
• http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5115
• http://cdn.hm-treasury.gov.uk/sr2010_completereport.pdf
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/17/snp-scottish-draft-budget-unveiled
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11639412
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/15/tuition-fees-scottish-students
• http://www.scotland.ogov.uk/Resource/Doc/331661/0107923.pdf
• http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/herald-view/budget-demands-scrutiny-not-point-scoring-1.1069740
• http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/ian-swanson-who3911-be-counting.6627268.jp
• http://www.universities-scotland.ac.uk/uploads/publications/UniversitiesScotland-TowardsaScottishSolutionOct2010.pdf
• http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Council-funding-deal-starts-to.6631760.jp
• http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/education/teaching-unions-warn-deal-will-harm-education-1.1069663
• http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/herculean-task-to-save-jobs-and-services-yet-cut-1-3bn-1.1069207
• http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2016147/

Action Planning and Training

NAG are working with So We Stand to run training days in Glasgow. The first date we have in mind is in December, so if you’re interested in coming along or just want to know more, email nagtraining [at] riseup.net for further information.

Action Training PDF

Nag Rag Issue 0 – We’re all in this together… Who me? Of course, I would happily work for £1 an hour!

Download the PDF here

Sharing the burden of debt is hard.  Especially when you’re sharing it with a bunch of lazy, layabout student pensioners, with overly comfortable jobs that do nothing for no one.

We’ve tried to cram in the superlatives on our glorious leaders’ enlightened approach to sharing their debt equally amongst us and express our sympathy for the hardships they and their friends will have to go through. A fuller approach can be found on the website, but here are the highlights:

OUR GLORIOUS LEADERS!

THE CBI
The CBI is the UK’s top business lobbying organisation with ‘unmatched influence’ on government policy-making.

Made up of large companies such as Tesco, BP and RBS, the CBI have lobbied consistently for the cuts, and more specifically for the cuts to be directed against the poor[1]. As we can well understand! Indeed, why should senior management of the world’s biggest companies accept pay-freezes while their entry-level staff are let off scot-free? It’s not as if managers make the big, blundering financial transactions and the lowest-paid workers put in the hard graft, is it?

Whilst the profits of the combined CBI businesses enter into the billions, they have lobbied for a reduction of welfare, supported the drastic destruction of the benefit system, encouraged the rise in tuition fees and condemned any action, such as strikes, against these new policies. In October they sent an open letter[2] claiming that any rise in corporate tax would be detrimental to businesses that are struggling to stay afloat.

However, according to a report by the Boston Consulting Group[3], global wealth increased by 11.5% in 2009 to $111.5 trillion, while the BBC reported the average salary for finance directors of financial services firms as £94,000pa, for pharmaceuticals firms £89,000pa and for manufacturing firms £78,000pa[4].

Of course, as this salary data is based on PAYE, no published statistics can take into account the earnings from bonuses paid out to fat cat bankers and CEOs (which are set to increase this year, if not double[5]). For all we know, they may have to return it all in cash, from their tax-dodging off-shore bank accounts[6].

The Government
The starting salary for an MP is £65,738pa, with cabinet ministers raking in a meagre £145,492pa[7]. Mere chicken feed. Little wonder they have to scam their expenses to make some pocket money.

According to research published by the Sunday Times in May, there are 18 millionaires in the cabinet[8]. If their political careers were to flounder overnight, they would have no choice but to resort to the after-dinner speakers circuit where, for example, former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott makes a pittance of £5,000 – £10,000 for a full hour’s work. Not to mention Tony Blair’s £400,000 per hour[9]… Knowing all this, it can be hard to believe that ‘we are all in it together’, but we must keep the faith.

US MERE MORTALS?

Unemployment
The Great Depression was an international bout of laziness, swallowing millions in an global wave of unemployment. With 229,000 Scots currently unemployed[10], we are seeing a rash of apathy sweeping our nation.

Forget a Job Centre that genuinely assists people to finding a new job. Fortnightly meetings lasting 7.5 minutes[11] should be more than enough to rebuild the confidence of professional workers shaken by redundancies. Better still to impose sanctions on those who attempt to hold out for a job they might want to do long-term rather than taking the first unskilled, low-paid vacancy offered them: the unemployed may now to be forced into work or risk losing their benefits for up to three years if they do not take what is offered[12].

Forced labour was a tactic of many other popular regimes, but is it really necessary in a society where despite claims to the contrary, we live with wealth to share? “Yes,” is the answer coming loud and clear from the U.S.[13].  How can you compete with poor starving third world-ers if you are going to have pay minimum wage?

£1 an hour is all you should really get for building roads, or taking out bins. These layabouts get paid far too much as it is. Given how many unemployed people are around, so why don’t you sack your workers and help those poor unfortunates get a job? It pays worse than a real job? Sure, but it gets them out of the house, right?

Public sector jobs
Half a million jobs to be axed! Enough said surely? Not quite. Most experts are now suggesting this is an underestimate, with many more public sector jobs facing the chop. Well, somebody had to do something about all those teachers and nurses!

Current forecasts suggest a further 170,000 public sector job losses by 2015. The resultant loss in tax revenue lost from public sector workers is about £4.5 billion which has not been factored into government figures (and that figure could be greater with the private sector losses).

Some councils have already announced public sector job losses, with an initial 2.6% cut rising to 6.4% for any council too slow off the mark[14]. These jobs will see our public services grind to a halt, reducing the opening hours of some services as others cease to exist. But that is no problem for those of us who can afford to pay the inflated rates of increasingly privatised services as the government sells off schools, hospitals and transportation.

Of course, in reality, this will mean more families forced onto the dole, into cheaper housing (if they can find it), no longer secure with potential pensions in the future. Hardship will not only be faced by those families but by those who these public sector workers used to provide for. Travel, social care, community support, these are the areas where we are likely to lose the most.

Outsourcing and privatisation will also endanger local health care trusts and prisoners as they get turned into profit making machines, with services cut depending on how profitable they are. Meanwhile, the banks are still hiring[15]…

Oh, wait, there’s more! The combination of the cuts and VAT rise could see 900,000 private sector jobs disappear as well[16]. Together the public and private sector job losses could see a staggering 1.6 million jobs slashed.

The loss of jobs in the private sector is being predicted to equal that experienced in the recession between spring 2008 and winter 2009, but we’ve forgotten what that was like so probably won’t notice.

What a lovely coincidence that these job cuts will go hand-in-hand with the changes to the welfare state? This will ensure the poor are the hardest hit by the coalition’s cuts, adding to the number of unemployed as benefit spending is reduced. It couldn’t have been planned any better!

Housing
The cuts to housing benefit are likely to make most housing in the South of England unaffordable to people without full-time professional jobs, due to the caps being placed on Local Housing Allowance[17].

Although most of us would prefer not to live there, this change in policy is likely to trigger the migration of several thousand households[18] to the outskirts of London – and northwards to cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow, none of which will have fewer than 10,000 people affected themselves by the changes – leaving central London free of dole-scum. The bankers and politicians will be able to party freely through the rough times without having to worry about their soirees being gatecrashed by junkies and benefits-cheats.

The families “de-homed” by this savage cut (not “made homeless” – that means something else entirely, doesn’t it, Lord Freud?[19]) won’t be able to afford to travel to and from work, which will lead to the same issues about to be faced by unemployed people UK-wide, as well as further ghettoisation of the urban poor.

This will also drive up the cost of rental housing stock in areas the affected households disperse into so the impact on other families and communities will be far-reaching[20]. Meanwhile, asylum-seeking families are being torn out of our communities by an accommodation shake-up[21].

If that wasn’t enough of a burden for our glorious leaders to shoulder, there will be next to no social housing as the budget is cut by 60% – and we could see a quick decline in what little affordable housing is left as competition grows for it. Just as everyone loses their jobs. Brilliant.

Disabilities
Savage cuts have been directed at those with disabilities. Not content with reassessing all working-age claimants (reducing public sector spending in practice!), changes to Disability Living Allowance and Employment Support Allowance will kick in over the next couple of years to ensure work-shy layabouts won’t be able to scrounge off hard-working politicians and bankers for “illnesses” as tame as “a bad back” or “depression”[22].

As “Red” Ken Livingstone reminded us last week, people need to get “into the habit of getting out of bed in the mornings”[23]. For those unable to work due to disability, their benefits will be limited to one year. After that they will be forced to accept jobs under the same terms as able bodied people[24].

If these measures do not prove sufficient to ensure that the malingerers are weeded out, further cuts will be made to the Independent Living Fund[25] and Mobility Allowance, placing further pressure on care-givers and imprisoning many people in their own homes.

Healthcare
NHS spending will grow by just 1.3% over four years – lower than at any time in its history and wholly insufficient to meet rising demand, drug costs and demographic pressures[26] – hence the demand for 20% “efficiency savings” already translating into recruitment freezes and treatment restrictions in many trusts. This clearly adds up.

If combined with the reorganisation proposed in the NHS White Paper, the effects on equity and continuity of care could be catastrophic[27]. The Royal College of Nursing have stated there are 27,000 NHS jobs already highlighted for the cut across the UK which nicely complements the cuts to health spending, putting the NHS into turmoil[28]. Best not get ill too soon then!

Old and young
Cuts in local authority spending are going to hit elderly people who depend on council-run transport, day centres, home based and residential care[29].

Not only this, but thousands of jobs in the education sector will be lost. Lecturers and support staff face ‘voluntary’ redundancy or the sack and there will be far less job opportunities in the future for academics and construction workers[30].
But it is not just higher education being affected. An estimated 40,000 teachers are to lose their jobs. Young people will suffer cuts to local authority funded youth clubs, play schemes and psychological and social support[31].

As well as this, fewer education courses will be available for rehabilitating young offenders and prisoners, meaning that they will be unable to receive qualifications and get jobs. Research has shown that this in itself will mean they are more likely re-offend[32]. Although, as our glorious leaders can testify, crime pays.

Download Nag Rag Issue 0

References:

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11607879
2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8069609/Osbornes-cuts-will-strengthen-Britains-economy-by-allowing-the-private-sector-to-generate-more-jobs.html
3. http://www.bcg.com/expertise_impact/PublicationDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-49731
4. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8151355.stm
5. http://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/news/british-bankers-brace-themselves-for-another-bonus-bonanza-4309.htm
6. http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=in_the_back&issue=1273
7. http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-information-office/M05.pdf
8. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7133943.ece
9. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6037174.ece
10. http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0104881289924756633A
11. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-06-12c.271623.h
12. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/07/unemployed-unpaid-work-lose-benefits?intcmp=239
13. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/nov/07/britain-welfare-state-born-usa?intcmp=239
14. http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0110831289959601763A
15. http://news.efinancialcareers.com/newsandviews_item/newsItemId-29437
16. http://www.cipd.co.uk/pressoffice/_articles/Treasuryselectcommittee011110.htm
17. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/31/london-housing-crisis-benefit-cuts
18. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/24/exodus-poor-families-from-london
19. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/03/welfare-minister-new-definition-homeessness
20. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/28/housing-benefit-labour
21. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/protesters-hit-out-at-shameful-plan-to-disperse-asylum-seekers-from-glasgow-1.1068728
22. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/nov/12/iain-duncan-smith-work-related-activity
23. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11714997
24. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2010/nov/11/welfare-reform-disability-benefit-cuts
25. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/20/spending-review-cuts-elderly-vulnerable
26. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/16/midwife-cuts-childbirth-risk
27. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/oct/23/hospital-bed-crisis-neediest-patients
28. http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/uk/27,000_nhs_jobs_set_to_be_cut
29. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/nov/07/children-old-lonely-council-spending-cuts
30. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/higher-education-universities-fees-cuts
31. http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0130041290017750730A
32. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1989713.stm

Welcome to Network Action Glasgow

Network Action Glasgow is an outreach collective that hopes to bring together the groups and individuals working for social justice in Glasgow. We are part of the National Information Network for Justice and Action. If you would like to know more about us, want to find out who’s working on an area that interests you, or register your project and/or activity with us, drop us a wee email or leave a comment.