Bristol & District Anti-Cuts Alliance Bulletin

Hello from BADACA

It’s been a busy few weeks. Following on from the ‘Save Our City’ anti cuts march on February 8th, activists gathered at the council house for the budget debate on February 18th. It was disgusting to see George Ferguson’s cuts budget voted through with the support of Labour as well as the Tories and the anger was still evident at the BADACA AGM on the 24th. Over 30 activists met at Hamilton House to discuss the horrendous impact that £80 million of cuts will have on our city. We heard a guest speaker from Barnet who had first hand experience of the mass cuts and privatisation carried out by Max Wide before George Ferguson recruited him as ‘strategic director for business change’ for Bristol City Council. The debate recognised that Bristol will face huge attacks on jobs and services as the cuts begin to take hold and there was a lively discussion about practical ways to oppose the impact of the budget. On Friday 7^th March BADACA activists attended a demonstration at a Bath Job Centre which was being visited by Iain Duncan-Smith to launch the latest trial of his ill-fated ‘Universal Credit’. Then on Friday 14^th March BADACA activists joined a demonstration of around 100 people in St Pauls to support the community radio station Ujima who have been forced to cease broadcasting following a dispute over electricity bills.

BADACA would also like to express our condolences to the family & friends of Bob Crow & Tony Benn who both very sadly passed away this week. Bob & Tony were two giants of the British labour movement. The impact of their ideas will long outlive them.

Please see below for details of upcoming events:

Anti-Bedroom Tax meeting on Monday, 17 March 2014 20:00 @ Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY
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Lobby of Council Bedroom Tax Evictions Policy Debate on Tuesday, 18 March 2014 17:00 @ Council House/ CIty Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR
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Protect Our NHS Bristol meeting on Tuesday, 18 March 2014 19:30 @ Bica Bistro Cafe, 196 Cheltenham Rd, Bristol BS6 5RB
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The People’s Budget (budget day protest) on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 17:30 @ The Fountains (opposite the Hippodrome), Bristol City Centre
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Bristol transport for ‘Stand Up to Racism & Fascism’ demo in London on Saturday, 22 March 2014 07:30 @ London
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NUT stall to build for 26th March strike on Saturday, 22 March 2014 11:00 @ Near the Hippodrome, St Augustines Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ
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