The People’s Assembly Scotland on Saturday will see Scots protest against cuts in public services
A major rally is to take place in Glasgow this weekend with protestors calling for “real action” against massive cuts in public services.
The People’s Assembly event will take place at the University of Strathclyde Students Association on the city’s John Street on Saturday (23 January) from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
Those in attendance will hear calls from politicians, trade unions and campaigning groups for a united voice against austerity in Scotland.
It is now crucial that we bring together the broad consensus in Scotland to take real action against austerity
Phil McGarry (left) chair of the People's Assembly Scotland
The People’s Assembly Scotland chair Phil McGarry will call for the council tax freeze to be scrapped and the introduction of a progressive “mansion tax” based on the size of a person’s property.
Elaine Smith MSP (Labour), Chris Stephens MP (SNP), Janice Godrich, president of the PCS union, and Dave Moxham, STUC deputy general secretary, will also address the crowd on responding to massive cuts in public services, looking at ways of combating austerity with existing powers and council tax reform.
Speaking ahead of the event, McGarry said: “This week’s announcement of 2,000 jobs to go at Edinburgh Council shows the scale of the problem public services face. That is seven times the jobs lost through the Tata Steel closures in Scotland.
“With 40,000 jobs already lost in local government and many more lost in the NHS, police, community and voluntary sector, it is now crucial that we bring together the broad consensus in Scotland to take real action against austerity.”
Also on Saturday, Simon MacFarlane of Unison will lead a session on the union’s Combating Austerity report which details how public bodies in Scotland can use existing powers and strategies to mitigate austerity.
Helen Connor, vice-president of the STUC and Sam Fairbairn, national secretary of the People’s Assembly will also speak.
Find out how to join the demonstration by visiting the rally's Facebook page.
