Haringey Alliance for Public Services, the National Union of Teachers and Unison came together on January 17th for an extremely lively march and lobby of Haringey counciil.

The demonstration was considerably larger than previous protests, with around 1,000 stopping the traffic on Wood Green High Road before hearing speakers denounce the Tory-led Government’s savage cuts to essential public services.

Speakers from HAPS also called on councillors and council leaders to resist centrally imposed cuts by any means necessary. Following the rally a deputation from HAPS attended the full council meeting and made a powerful presentation to the assembled council representatives and a packed public gallery, asking local councillors to either vote against the cuts and to refuse to impose an austerity budget, or to stand aside and allow others to take their place.

Next Haringey Alliance for Public Services meeting

Thursday 10 February 2011 7.15pm
HARINGEY: HAPS General Meeting
North London Community House, 22 Moorefield Rd. N17 6PY (Behind Bruce Grove Station)

Open to all Haringey residents and workers. Come along and add your opinions and ideas for the next stage of the campaign.

The Government is threatening Haringey with over £87m cuts in the next 3 years (£46m in the coming year alone) to our libraries, schools, health services, old peoples homes, youth centres, community centres and facilities, green spaces, public service jobs (1,000 under threat), voluntary projects, welfare benefits, housing rights and much much more...  In addition £17m of money promised from central government has already been axed or frozen. If these cuts are allowed to go ahead they will be the worst in our borough's history. The Council are currently consulting to find out what local residents think about all this - so now is the time for everyone to speak out and to join the protests.

The Haringey Alliance for Public Services has already held rallies and a 250-strong demonstration to show that people do not have to accept these cuts. Together we can defend our vital public services from cuts, closures and privatisation threats! The full Council will be meeting on the 17th January to discuss what to do next. Councillors must demand adequate government funding, reject privatisation, oppose and refuse to implement cuts - or stand down in favour of others who will resist cuts.

CUTS: Unfair, unacceptable and unnecessary

Good public services, and a universal welfare system, are central to what's good about Haringey and our lives. We all need good health care, schools and nurseries, community centres, well-run parks and libraries, social services, affordable housing, safe and attractive neighbourhoods, decent jobs, and an adequate and reliable income for unwaged people. Previous generations fought hard to win such improvements.

Devastating - and unjustifiable

The Council estimates it will have to make up to £87m cuts over the next 3 years, and the NHS faces similar threats. If not countered, the cuts will be devastating for all our local communities, for those working in the local public sector and other jobs, for many vital public, voluntary and community projects, services and facilities - and for the most vulnerable, including those reliant on housing and incapacity benefits.

All in it together?

This is a wealthy country, but the Government has chosen to take away £billions of public funds from essential public services whilst propping up greedy and irresponsible banks with public money. According to the Sunday Times 'Rich List' the richest 1,000 people in the UK have a combined hoard of £330billion - just for themselves. Annual corporate tax evasion is estimated at over £100billion. Enough is enough. Our public services are entitled to adequate resources and improvements!

Doing nothing is not an option

The Government was forced to back down after 5,000 people marched to save the Whittington Hospital. Students have held a number of massive demonstrations and occupied many colleges to defend public access to further education. 1,000 local teenagers have formed a campaign to defend local youth centres. Local trades unionists are mobilising to defend local jobs under threat. Local alliances and campaigns are springing into action all over the country - other countries facing the same threats have already seen mass strikes and millions protesting on the streets. Doing nothing is not an option...

What can we do together?

Together we can reverse the cuts programme if we take action and say NO. We call on all Haringey's residents, community groups, workers and trades unions to link together and stand up for what's right. We call on Councillors to reject privatisation, oppose all cuts and refuse to implement them - or make way for others who will join the fightback.

The Haringey Alliance for Public Services (HAPS) is a network of community and residents groups, trades unions and political organisations, and many concerned individuals. It is open to all those living or working in Haringey. We support opposition to the running down, closure or privatisation of any local public services, and support campaigning for improvements. We promote communication and co-ordination, mutual aid and solidarity among all those affected. Why not get involved?