The mood in Lewisham town centre was clear.

Our government and the police have blighted the lives of young people and people in working class communities in Britain. They have taken away EMA, put up university tuition fees. The police use racist stop and search measures. Young people are treated with contempt in the media. No wonder people riot.

The Right to Work statement about the riots is available here

Cameron’s cure for the ‘sick society’ is more oppressive powers for the police and more cuts.

The riots that have spread across the country need to be understood against the backdrop of racism, increasing poverty, inequality and restricted access to education.

Cameron says ‘It is clear there are things that are badly wrong in our society’ but has no understanding that his cuts agenda has created the tinderbox igniting in cities across Britain.

The government cuts to Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and increased tuition fees that sparked mass student protests last year are resulting in the further exclusion of young working class people.

Youth unemployment is at its highest ever levels. In London youth unemployment stands at 23 percent.

A generation of young people face either no work or at best low paid work, restricted access to education, alongside cuts to benefits and services.

As John McDonnell MP and Honorary Chair, Right to Work said, we are now
“Reaping what has been sown over three decades of creating a grotesquely unequal society, with alienated young copying the ethos of looting bankers.”

When young people have their hopes and futures ripped apart by government policies it should come as no surprise that frustration explodes into riots.

We were not alone in predicting this kind of social explosion – during the election campaign Nick Clegg predicted riots if the Tories were elected.

Government and bankers’ greed created both the economic crisis and the frustrations that have led to the riots.

It is also clear that there are many unanswered questions about the police killing of Mark Duggan in Tottenham that began the riots. We now know he did not shoot at the police.

This comes after the police killings of Ian Tomlinson and Jean Charles de Menezes.

Calls for repression, water cannon, curfews and rubber bullets can only exacerbate the situation, increase volatility and further demonise and criminalise young people.

We call on everyone to support the TUC-backed protests at the Lib Dem and Tory conferences in the autumn and to step up the fight against the cuts, racism, poverty and inequality.

Download flyer as PDF here.

Last year 7,000 people joined the Right to Work initiated demonstration at the Tory conference in Birmingham. this year many more are expected.  The NUT are supporting the march, the North West TUC is supporting the demonstration and at UNISON conference delegates voted for a motion that called for the TUC to call a march at the Tory Conference. The day is set to be a huge demonstration of anger against this vicious government.

Transport will leave Lewisham Station at 7am on Sunday 2nd October. Tickets are £20 waged and £10 unwaged.

To book a ticket 07725073457 or email sheila.amrouche@yahoo.co.uk

6.30pm, Conway Hall, (Holborn Tube)
John McDonnell MP,
UCU and Tower Hamlets Strikers

There was huge applause for Mark Serwotka and Len McKlusky’s calls for co-ordinated strike action to beat the cuts. How can we make this a reality?

Right to Work is convening an open meeting introduced by john McDonnell MP to allow us to debate and discuss the way forward. He will be joined by strikers from Tower Hamlets, UCU and speakers from the floor from as many campaigns as possible. Come along and join the discussion.

Our own feeder march demonstrates the potential for future work together. Lewisham Right to Work supporters will be campaigning to bring delegations from all the groups and workplaces that supported the local assembly to the meeting. We also want to display our banners in the hall, get local groups to run stalls and plan contributions.

If you want to run a stall or notify the chair your group would like to contribute please email info@righttowork.org.uk

Click to view slideshow.

Saturday 19^th March

Meet 11AM at Lewisham Clock Tower

Bring banners, placards, whistles and anything from campaigns! Friends, family, children and pets all welcome!

Meze Mangal received a four-star review in Time Out and is popular with students and Lewisham residents alike!

Famous American Civil Rights Actvists Martin Luther King said “A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.” Make sure your back isn’t bent for the coming months! Have a break! Get your ticket for the Lewisham Right To Work Social Evening!

To get a ticket £15-Waged, £11 Unwaged, phone Estelle on 0774 887 4987 or email lewishamrighttowork@gmail.com (Ticket includes entry to the evening and full three course meal.)

*All Welcome*

The Carnival Against Cuts began with a series of protests throughout the borough, including one outside Opening Doors, which was closed down by the council on Friday.

Protesters then gathered at the Town Hall for a march into Lewisham town centre. The fantastic turnout for the demonstration included members of Unison, the NUT, Unite and PCS unions, along with campaigners against library closures, parents protesting at cuts in Early Years services, and many more.  Read the News Shopper report here.

Click to view slideshow.

Right to Work are joining with campaigning groups throughout the borough to organise a borough-wide protest on February 19th, outside the threatened services, libraries, children’s centres and the town hall. We will be outside Opening Doors at 11am  – come and join us!

There will also be protests outside banks, who have continued to pay huge bonuses to their bosses while failing to lend money to small businesses who could help regenerate the area.

After the protest people will make their way to the Town Hall in Catford to assemble by 1pm for a short march past Lewisham Hospital, to be joined there by health campaigners from Keep Our NHS Public, then on past Ladywell Leisure Centre, being run-down by privateers Parkwood Leisure, past the fire station where FBU members may well be on strike and finishing with a short rally on the grassy area on the corner of Lewisham High Street and Rennel Street.

For more information and publicity click here.