Meeting Report: 26/07/2011

Rotherham Against the Cuts Meeting:
Tuesday, 5th July 2011, 7:30pm. Bridge Inn.
Chair: Neil Adshead

It was decided to have a meeting to finalise and agree the Constitution - this will be Tuesday 2nd August at the Bridge Inn at 7:30pm. NB This meeting is to discuss and finalise the Constitution ONLY!

The next RAC general meeting will be tuesday 9th August at the Bridge Inn at 7:30pm.

some contacts that have been made with community groups were discussed. We await replies.

A campaign of Letter-writing to the advertised was agreed on, to be organised by MH.

A Communications committee was agreed to be set up to take responsibility for leaflets, petitions and blog-content. Volunteers to be on this committee are requested.

Discussion around another public meeting was left open-ended pending further developments in the autumn regarding strikes and Trade Union actions.

It was agreed that stalls should be a strictly RAC forum but with literature from Unions and Youth campaigns to be accepted. It was agreed that the stall needed more literature - this was one way of helping to meet that need.

Unison (health branch) have provided an amended NHS petition (including RAC reference) to use on the stall.

Discussion of Manchester Tory Conference demo, Jarrow March and General strike.

Linzi Haynes stepped down as Treasurer and Tom Donaldson took up the post.

Praise for RAC!!!

Here are a couple of letters recently sent in to the Advertiser supporting the work of RAC! We'd like to thank the authors for their kind words, and we'd like to urge the rest of you to come and join us!

Praise for Rotherham Against Cuts group.

"Sir, Just done my Saturday morning shopping in Rotherham and had the pleasure of chatting to the Rotherham Against the Cuts (RAC) group.

They listen politely and give out advice on what we should be doing to fight the cuts.

They sooth frayed nerves through people being sick and tired of being sick and tired at having their lives ruined by ideologies and fat cats in London.

We’re all in it together they say. How have the cuts affected them? Not by much I should imagine. I know I’ve been affected through my health, social services, housing, education and employment.

These are to name a few areas where the cuts have touched. Most of Rotherham have or will be going through the same carry on.

This is only going to get worse. So I say good luck to the lads and lasses of RAC. They have our future in their hands and are, as we speak, trying to put it on a good footing.

All they need is a little help from us and I for one am going to give it. They seem to be the only team that cares, nobody else gives a monkey’s. The cuts are coming to a place near you so be prepared."

We must fight the cuts!

"Sir, May I say, I completely agree with Mr Jeff Sheard's letter showing support for "rotherham against the cuts".

These diehard lefties know what is coming, Rotherham will suffer from these cuts, we have already seen meals on wheels gone, laundry service gone, attacks on the youth and vulnerable by a Labour Party which has completely lost touch, not only with the working class but with the population in general.

Labour leader Harold Macmillan once said "the Labour Party is a moral crusade or nothing at all".

It is fast becoming nothing at all. 

Four million voters have deserted Labour, the working class the working poor and the absolute poor are screaming out for a new party with morals and principles.

I would say the Socialist Workers' party are the only party left with an alternative and it's a shame the rotherham workers (private sector and public sector) don't support this party when it comes to elections.

We need thousands more Jeff Sheards who take time to stop and listen and make that change from mainstream greed, back to morals and principles and fairness - something that's been lacking in the UK for last 30 years."

Rotherham Community School Photo Montage

A montage of photos from the RCS Kids not Cuts campaign in Rawmarsh. in the words of the creator, one of "RCS NUT's finest", it will "remind everyone of how we stood together in the face of an unprecedented attack and gained strength and determination from our solidarity. It exemplified what a union should be and I hope the images inspire people to maintain the same courage and commitment for the battles that lie ahead. If all else fails just think of the other unions and that should scare you back to the picket lines. I'll be waiting!"

Public Meeting Report: 14/07/2011

Rotherham Against the Cuts Public Meeting:
Thursday, 14th July 2011, 7:30pm, Bridge Inn.
Chair: Martin Hickman (RAC Sec.)
Speakers: Gavin Stevenson, Ralph Dyson.

Around 20 people attended. Gavin reported on the activities of Barnsley Students around the strikes of 30th June, highlighting the importance of involving young people in RAC and anti-cuts movements in general.

Ralph reported on the activites he was involved with on the 30th June, including picketing, speaking at RAC rally in Rotherham town Centre and marching in Sheffield. Ralph highlighted the importance of continuing to build RAC.

Many contributions from the floor restated RAC's commitment to making links with Trade Unions and students, whilst also making attempts to contact community groups and workers on the frontline, facing the cuts.

Next meeting confirmed for the 26th July at the Bridge Inn.

Meeting Report: 05/07/2011

Rotherham Against the Cuts Meeting:

Tuesday, 5th July 2011, 7:30pm. Bridge Inn.

Chair: Jill Adams

Draft constitutions were distributed to all who had not recieved them for perusal and further discussion. Insufficient members were in attendence to further discuss.

Speakers for the Public meeting, set for Thursday 14th July, were discussed. Still waiting for confirmation.

The next RAC meeting was set for Tuesday 26th July at the Bridge Inn

The email address (rothagainstcuts@hotmail.co.uk) was discussed and in the interests of confidentiality, only Chris Bingham will have DIRECT access to the email address and mailing list.

Further activities were discussed. RAC members to report back at the next meeting.

Jayne Fitzgerald was asked to produced a questionnaire to find out what cuts are affecting people and how. These are to be used on stalls, at the public meetings and possibly on facebook.

RAC vinyl banner will be produced.