Public sector strikes: East Lancashire workers on picket lines (From Lancashire Telegraph)

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"
Allan Whitehead wrote:
Strikes and Pickets Why,
Well many years ago when we had child labour, some forward progressive organisations, began to think it was wrong to have children working at 11, 12 and 13 years of age.
Therefore, they agitated until the Government of the day altered the rules slightly, and allowed children to go to school and be educated. However, this was much against the grain with many members of parliament. Then one day, it was realised by the people they were being used to make Mill and Foundry Owners very rich, so when they became old, they would not want.
Because of being educated, the workers began to realise, they also reached a time when the mill, and foundry owners, no longer needed their services, because, they could not maintain the previous stamina they had shown when younger. Then came the great wars, and many took part in these fights for freedom. After, these wars came another breed of persons one who would stand up for themselves. (Possibly, due to the fact, they had seen how powerful they had been, when they all grouped together for a particular cause) If it had worked during the great wars, why not in peacetime?
Following, many others who would receive pensions for their service. Regular Soldiers, Policemen, Bankers, unions very slowly achieved pensions for manual workers, we already had the state pension, now works pensions became into being, and many workers contributed to provide themselves with a pension for their elderly years. Now because the public sectors appear to be at the upper end of the scale, having negotiated their conditions, and agreed them, with their so-called bosses. Someone wishes to change the rules. Why?
Simple we can't afford to pay anymore.

The figures were conceived by Gordon Brown who's reckless non-regulation of the banks has brought the country to it's knees, and also had forecasts based on the money tree he thought the bankers, who he was knighting in droves, had found.

There was no money tree. There is no money. We are currently borrowing and borrowing and borrowing. Billions upon billions upon billions. Outside of countries on the brink like Greece and Ireland and Portugal, we have the biggest debt. It's because we were doing similarly things spending under Labour. All borrowed.

That's what's changed. There ain't no money tree."
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Public sector strikes: East Lancashire workers on picket lines

5:00pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Blackpool Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye , Health reporter

STRIKE Protesters in Blackburn town centre this afternoon. Pic: Michelle Greaves

20,000 public sector workers took part in demonstrations across East Lancashire today to protest over changes to their pensions.

A thousand of those marched noisily through Blackburn town centre this lunchtime amid a sea of flags, banners and placards, travelling to the beat of drums and the shrill of whistles and vuvuzelas.

For 45 minutes workers – some who had brought their children and even their pet dogs - converged outside Blackburn town hall in King William Street where union bosses whipped the crowd into a fervour.

“We’ve been shafted by pay freezes, shafted by job evaluations and now they’re trying to shaft us in our pensions. It’s one shaft too many”, said GMB representative Tim McDermott.

A chant of ‘Get your hands off our pension’ was started by members of the University and College Union, and NASUWT member Lesley Ham said the Government was “not only attacking public service workers but attacking those close to our hearts.”

Union officials estimate that over 95 per cent of schools and colleges were closed in East Lancashire, where 7,000 people work, and 50 per cent of hospital workers were on strike - a total of around 1,000 staff.