[Onthebarricades] Health and welfare protests, October 2008

[global resistance roundup]

* INDIA: UP - Police charge road death protesters
* TANZANIA: Protest against relocation of hospital
* SOUTH AFRICA: Gun standoff during hospital protest
* KENYA: Internal refugees protest for benefits
* INDIA: Pensioners protest treatment
* PAKISTAN: "Token" strike by junior doctors
* SOUTH AFRICA: NGO protest to extend Child Support Allowance
* CANADA: Vancouver - Rally against housing crisis
* NEW ZEALAND: Nurses protest over pay offer
* CANADA: Vancouver - Paramedics protest ambulance underfunding
* US: Lafayette - Motorcyclists protest road death
* INDIA: Kerala - power tariff protest
* INDIA: Kerala - parking fee protest
* UK: Manchester - homeless man interrupts TV show to demand counsellor
* IRELAND: Women berate politician at altar over pensions
* IRELAND: Pensioners, youths in benefits protest
* UK: Sorting office closure protest
* UK: Lincoln - Mascot leads post office protest
* US: New Jersey - Health workers protest stalled talks
* IRELAND: Protest highlights health cutbacks





http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101355260300.htm

Other States - Uttar Pradesh

Policemen injured by protestors, resort to lathicharge
Rampur: Police resorted to lathicharge after four of them were injured 
when a group of people, who were protesting against a student’s death in 
a road accident near Dhamora township here, pelted stones at them.
“A group of people blocked NH 24 following the death of Seva Ram, a 
class IX student in a road accident on Saturday,” SSP Veer Bahadur Singh 
said.
“Though the police persuaded them to withdraw the blockade they relented 
and pelted stones at them in which four policemen were injured, 
prompting the men in uniform to resort to a lathicharge, SSP Singh said 
adding that cases against 45 persons have been registered for rioting 
and creating public disturbances.
Due to the blockade, a jam could be seen up to 10 km on the National 
Highway.
--PTI





http://allafrica.com/stories/200810080544.html

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)
Tanzania: Villagers Protest Elevation of Selian Hospital
Gebo Arajiga
8 October 2008
Arusha — Arumeru west residents hold placards as they protest the 
relocation of the local hopital from Ekenywa Villange yesterday.
Hundreds of residents of Arumeru West constituency yesterday 
demonstrated to their council head offices to protest against the 
relocation of their 'district' hospital from Ekenywa Village to the 
suburbs of Arusha.
They walked in groups for over 30 kilometres to oppose a proposal to 
have the Selian Lutheran Hospital near the town serve as designated 
hospital for the area instead of elevating a health facility at Ekenywa 
village.
The residents from nine wards in the area said it was unfair for the 
people if the church-run hospital serves as a 'district' designated 
hospital instead of the health centre at Ekenywa village.
Their demostration coincided with the Arusha District Council session 
slated for yesterday to seal an agreement with the Selian Lutheran 
hospital as the designated hospital for Arumeru West.
The protest by over 3,000 villagers took Arusha residents by surprise 
early yesterday as groups of men and women clad in traditional attire 
marched to the council head offices close to the Arusha-Moshi road.
Council employees were also taken unawares, expecting that the 
councillors would endorse the Selian Hospital as the designated 
'district' hospital for the constituency.
The Arumeru district council was last year split into two with the Meru 
Council serving Arumeru East and the Arusha Council retained for Arumeru 
West. The district is the most populous in the region.
Sensing that the protest could lead to a breach of peace, District 
Commissioner Elias Wawa Lali hastily convened a meeting of civic leaders 
and government officials to discuss the matter.
They included the chairman of the Arusha Council, Mr John ole Saitabau, 
Arumeru MP Elisa Mollel, council executive director Hassan Hida and 
senior police officials from the region and the district.
After the meeting which lasted two hours, the DC announced to hundreds 
of villagers who had camped outside the council's offices that the 
signiging of a contract with the Selian Lutheran Hospital has been 
postponed.
He said the matter would be brought to the villagers who will have to 
contribute money and other resources to construct more structures in 
order to elevate the Ekenywa health centre to a 'district' hospital.





http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081023062444603C776934

Gun fracas overshadows hospital protest
October 23 2008 at 08:49AM
By Bonile Ngqiyaza

A brief stand-off between a security official and health workers almost 
derailed a march by hundreds of employees at Charlotte Maxeke 
Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

Cleaners, porters, nurses, clerks, messengers and switchboard operators 
on Wednesday marched to the administration section of the hospital, 
protesting against the flawed implementation of the Occupation Specific 
Dispensation that was meant to increase the salaries of certain staff 
categories.

Other concerns included allegations of nepotism in appointments; 
corruption in tenders; outdated equipment; and general mismanagement and 
lack of consultation, including the change of the hospital's name.

According to a witness, the marchers objected to journalists being 
barred by the hospital's security from covering the march, which started 
around noon at the hospital's northern entrance.

The witness said an official of Pothlako Security Services then produced 
a gun, which infuriated the crowd even more.

Marshals of the unions taking part in the march - the National Education 
Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu), the South African Democratic 
Nurses' Union, the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA, and the Health 
and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of SA (Hospersa) - then saved 
the day by whisking the official off.

Nehawu branch secretary Motantsi Losaba was arrested in connection with 
the incident.

Hospital CEO Sagie Pillay said he was aware of the incident, and 
promised it would be probed. He added he was satisfied with the way the 
marchers had handled themselves.

"I am quite upset about what happened (as) we are going into a 
relationship-building meeting with labour tomorrow (Thursday) and 
Friday. It is quite evident there is a lack of trust. I think we should 
have given that time," he said.

Pillay said many of the demands and grievances had been probed in 2006, 
but unions did not want to accept the findings.






http://allafrica.com/stories/200810130120.html

Kenya: Ex-Refugees Protest Over Payments
Lorraine Anyango
10 October 2008

Nairobi — Former internal refugees from the now closed Afraha Stadium 
held a demonstration demanding Sh35,000 payment each on Friday.
They claimed that refugees elsewhere had been paid Sh35,000 each and 
demanded to know why they were being discriminated against.
And at the Nakuru showground, more than 6,000 refugees have vowed not to 
leave until they are paid Sh10,000 each.
The showground camp housed about 15,000 refugees but most have left for 
satellite camps near their homes.
Another group of displaced people camping in Molo is also demanding 
Sh10,000 each before breaking camp. The camp has about 3,000 refugees.
Refugees returning to their farms were promised an additional Sh25,000 
to enable them re-build their houses on top of Sh10,000.
Last week, about 3,000 refugees from Kuresoi trekked to Molo Town and 
camped outside the district commissioner's office demanding payment.
Payments were initially handled by the Special Programmes ministry but 
the Provincial Administration took over last month as the ministry is 
understaffed.







http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/08/stories/2008100859270400.htm

New Delhi

SBI pensioners protest against ‘step-motherly treatment’
Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI: Pensioners of State Bank of India staged a peaceful dharna at 
Jantar Mantar here on Monday protesting against “step-motherly 
treatment” meted out to them by the Government and the bank.
A large number of pensioners from across the country under the banner of 
State Bank of India Pensioners’ Association (Delhi Circle) took part in 
the dharna. Their main demands included 50 per cent pension on the last 
drawn pay for all past retirees, immediate revision of pension in 
respect of those who retired between November 1, 1997, and October 31, 
2002, extension of 100 per cent dearness allowance neutralisation to all 
past retirees and 30 per cent family pension for all family pensioners.
Association (Delhi Circle) general secretary H.R. Magon said it was 
tragic that while the Government had opened its coffers for its own 
pensioners based on the Sixth Pay Commission report, SBI pensioners 
continue to receive “step-motherly treatment”.
“This has compelled the pensioners’ fraternity to launch the peaceful 
struggle. The pension scheme of SBI for its retirees has been in force 
for the past 150 years. Sadly all pensioners are not getting 50 per cent 
pension of the last drawn pay,” Mr. Magon added.





http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=142483

CHK’s junior doctors stage protest Wednesday, October 22, 2008
By our correspondent

Karachi

Some over 100 junior doctors (house officers) of Civil Hospital, Karachi 
(CHK) on Tuesday staged a token strike for two hours, demanding for the 
same stipend for house officers(HOs), which the Punjab government is 
giving to their counter parts, amounting to Rs12,000 along with other 
benefits.

They also assembled outside the office of the medical superintendent CHK 
and chanted slogans. Subsequently, they dispersed peacefully.

A delegation of protesting doctors further met with the MS CHK, Dr Saeed 
Qurashy and presented their demands.

Dr Qurashy told The News that this matter was beyond his powers. He said 
he had conveyed the grievances of the junior doctors to the concerned 
provincial authorities and adding he said the house officers’ demands 
were legitimate.

Dr Jamil Manzar Siddiqi stated that around 150 junior doctors were 
working at the CHK.

He added that they had also launched a sustained campaign last year and 
the outgoing government had promised that their grievances would be 
addressed. However, when they received a salary after a three month gap, 
it was Rs6200, same as before, which is insufficient for the HOs.

Dr Ismail said that they work really hard, but they earn a living which 
is even less than a watchman’s salary and adding he said that they would 
continue this token strike for a week and if they do not receive any 
positive response from the provincial government, then they would be 
compelled to stage a boycott of emergencies.






http://allafrica.com/stories/200810170279.html

South Africa: Protest Against Limit to Grant
Anne Simpson
16 October 2008
The Black Sash and other concerned organisations held the first of three 
protests on Wednesday as part of their "ten days of activism" to 
highlight the need for the maximum age of the Child Support Grant to be 
extended to 18 years.
The Alliance for Children's Entitlement to Social Security (Acess) and 
the New Women's Movement, together with other civil service and 
children's activism groups, gathered with the Black Sash on the steps of 
St Mary's Cathedral in Cape Town.
Although the constitution defines a child as a person under the age of 
18, currently the Child Support Grant is only given to those aged 14 and 
younger.
"What they're doing is suicide. Parliament must see the severity of 
poverty ... If the state distances itself, the children cannot be taken 
care of," said Acess media officer Bukelwa Voko on Wednesday.
"The grant is an investment to give a child, and we must invest today if 
we want to have a viable economy tomorrow," Voko said.
Studies have connected the grant to school attendance, nutritional 
availability and therefore a child's health, said Ratula Beukman, Black 
Sash Advocacy Programme Manager.
Acess project officer Sanja Bornman said that children aged 15 to 18 
were a vulnerable group.
"They really need to stay in school. But if they cannot afford school 
fees and uniforms, they drop out. They cannot get jobs because they do 
not even have a matric, and it continues the cycle," said Bornman.
The Black Sash and Acess are calling on all South Africans to sign the 
Child Support Grant petition, which 8 000 people, including Archbishop 
Desmond Tutu, have already endorsed.
[Cape Argus]






http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/10/05/bc-housing-protest.html?ref=rss

Vancouver rally points to housing crisis
Last Updated: Sunday, October 5, 2008 | 2:37 PM ET Comments33Recommend10
CBC News
Protesters say there is a housing crisis in Canada that needs action. (CBC)
Advocates called for a national housing policy during a rally and 
federal all-candidates meeting on housing and poverty in Vancouver Saturday.
The event was part of a provincewide "Stand for housing" campaign, in 
which advocates in communities throughout B.C. staged protests to call 
attention to what they say is a housing crisis in Canada.
In Vancouver, advocates from the Citywide Housing Coalition, Streams of 
Justice and Community Advocates for Little Mountain lined the sidewalks 
at Main Street and 36th Avenue in the hopes of making their voices heard.
"We're here because we don't have a national housing program," said 
Wendy Pedersen with the Citywide Housing Coalition. "It's shocking. It's 
disrespectful. It's beyond belief."
Hedy Fry, the Liberal candidate for Vancouver-Centre, says her party 
would address the housing crisis if elected. (CBC)
"I think you and I have to pressure the politicians and have to get it 
onto the agenda," said one protester, Ray Norgren.
With the federal election less than two weeks away, most politicians 
were eager to tell voters how their parties will deal with the issues of 
poverty and homelessness.
"I can tell you right now it's an important core of the Liberal 
platform," said Hedy Fry, the Liberal candidate for Vancouver-Centre. 
"As a Liberal and as a person who grew up in social housing, I know that 
housing is fundamental to everyone's ability to live a dignified life."
Adrienne Carr, the Green party candidate for Vancouver-Centre, said she 
took her party leader, Elizabeth May, to the Downtown Eastside to 
highlight the housing and poverty issues there.
"Only by putting this issue in the public face and putting attention on 
it are we going to get action," Carr said.
Don Davies, the NDP candidate for Vancouver-Kingsway, said housing 
needed to be addressed in this federal election.
"It's not an issue. It's a crisis facing Canadian housing …Canada has 
one of the lowest rates of social housing in the developed world."
The Conservatives were the only party missing from Saturday's rally. 
Lorne Mayencourt, the party's candidate for Vancouver-Centre, cancelled 
his appearance less than 24 hours before the rally.






http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2008/10/16/124379d620ba

Rest home workers protest over 'shameful' pay offer
Updated at 6:04am on 17 October 2008
Union members at an Ashburton rest home staged a three-hour picket on 
Thursday to protest what they say is a "shameful" pay offer from their 
employer.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation, which has more than 50 members 
working at the Rosebank Private Hospital and Resthome, says they were 
offered a raise of 1.2% in exchange for a reduction in staff hours.
In a statement, Rosebank said that a dramatic increase in costs, coupled 
with limited, funding means it cannot make a better offer.
But union organiser Lynley Mulrine says the District Health Board gave 
the resthome a recent funding increase of almost 3%.
Ms Mulrine says any reduction in staff hours would compromise residents' 
care.






http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/10/07/bc-paramedics-victoria-protest.html?ref=rss

Paramedics protest in Vancouver over underfunding of ambulance service
Threaten strike if new job contract doesn't bring better wages, working 
conditions
Last Updated: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 | 7:32 PM ET Comments22Recommend32
CBC News
The president of the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. says many emergency 
personnel are facing poor conditions and too much work. (CBC)
Hundreds of paramedics gathered outside the provincial cabinet offices 
in downtown Vancouver Tuesday demanding the B.C. government properly 
fund the province's ambulance service or face job action.
The paramedics' contract expires in six months, and they are threatening 
to strike if the government doesn't offer a fair settlement, said John 
Strohmaier, president of Ambulance Paramedics of B.C. CUPE Local 873.
"A fair settlement would be to restore our historical relationship with 
other emergency workers [and] wage parity with other emergency workers 
in British Columbia," Strohmaier said.
B.C. Health Services Minister George Abbott announced last month a 
$2-million investment in 20 new full-time paramedic positions.
'We are now working in trailers for stations. The crappiest stations are 
literally crumbling beneath our feet.'— William Chute, Ambulance 
Paramedics of B.C.
But William Chute, the union's director of public education, said the 
province is losing far too many paramedics to stress, burnouts and other 
jobs.
"The $2 million that they [the government] promised a couple of weeks 
ago is a project that has been funded for three years already. Let's be 
clear on that. That's not new money," Chute said.
Paramedics' working conditions are below standard, he said.
"We are now working in trailers for stations. The crappiest stations are 
literally crumbling beneath our feet. We've been evacuated many times 
because of safety hazards such as mould and leaking," Chute said.
"The B.C. Ambulance Service and the B.C. government don't seem to want 
to properly fund the stations the way that paramedics deserve and the 
patients of our province deserve."
The B.C. Ambulance Service, staffed by more than 3,000 members of the 
paramedics union, provides public ambulance service under the authority 
of the Emergency and Health Services Commission of the provincial 
Ministry of Health.
The government needs to come up with more funding for the ambulance 
service, "that can respond to the cries for help in a time we need," 
Chute said.
"We simply cannot cope with the amount of emergencies that we deal 
with," he said.






http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081005/NEWS07/810050393/-1/NEWS09

Published: October 5, 2008 3:00 a.m.
Motorcyclists protest peer's death
Associated Press
LAFAYETTE – More than a dozen motorcyclists briefly stopped traffic at a 
busy intersection to protest prosecutors’ decision not to file charges 
against a truck driver who ran over a motorcyclist, killing him.
The motorcyclists parked in front of cars at U.S. 52 and Teal Road for 
about two minutes Friday evening, revving their engines and holding up 
signs that said: “See us?”
The protest was organized in response to a Sept. 23 accident that killed 
Bradley Trifone, a Purdue freshman from Glen Ellyn, Ill., on his 19th 
birthday.
Authorities said the truck driver was stopped at a red light behind 
Trifone. The driver said he did not see Trifone and when the light 
turned green he accelerated, running over Trifone and his motorcycle.
The Purdue freshman was dragged more than 300 feet and was fatally 
injured. Police said Trifone’s motorcycle may have stalled.
Sgt. Max Smith of the Lafayette Police Department said authorities have 
no reason to believe the driver’s actions were deliberate. He said his 
blood tests came back negative for drugs or alcohol.
But the driver, John F. Stillabower, 47, of Indianapolis, will be issued 
a traffic citation for an “unsafe start,” which carries a $130 fine.
Anthony Wettschurack of Lafayette organized the protest Friday. He said 
drivers don’t pay attention to motorcyclists and the protest was 
intended as a wake-up call.






http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101355410300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Protest against power tariff hike
KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode District Consumer Protection Committee will 
observe October 15 as protest day against the hike in power tariff 
imposed on domestic consumers. Committee president T.K.A. Azeez said the 
additional Rs.10 a unit for domestic consumers who use more than 200 
units of power was unjustifiable. — Staff Reporter




http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/13/stories/2008101354590300.htm

Kerala - Alappuzha

Protests against parking fee
Staff Reporter
Canal Management Society has imposed parking fee on Alappuzha beach
. — Special Arrangement

PAY AND PARK: The vehicles parked on Alappuzha beach on Sunday
ALAPPUZHA: The Alappuzha Canal Management Society’s (CMS) move to 
collect fee for parking vehicles on the beach here has run into trouble. 
The fee, which the Society started collecting from Friday, is to bolster 
the Society’s near-empty coffers. With tariffs of Rs.2 for two-wheelers, 
Rs.5 for three-wheelers, Rs.10 for four-wheelers and Rs.20 for heavy 
duty vehicles, such a fee is a first at the Alappuzha beach.
However, the local unit of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF), the 
youth wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has launched an 
agitation against the fee.
On Saturday and Sunday, AIYF activists forcibly prevented the collection 
of the fee.
AIYF district vice-president B. Naseer, who is leading the strike, said 
the federation would continue the protest till the fee was withdrawn.
“For centuries, there has been no such system here. Moreover, CMS has no 
business to impose a fee at the beach, which comes under the Port 
Department and beautification of which was done by the Tourism 
Department’s District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). In fact, the 
DTPC has said that it had no inkling as to why the fee was being 
collected and that it had no relation with the decision,” Mr. Naseer said.
Mr. Naseer points out that thousands of people, a majority of them from 
other districts, including Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Ernakulam, visit 
the beach on weekends. This was apart from the local populace that 
headed to the beach every evening.
“Imposing a fee is to drive them away. Moreover, they say that the fee 
is valid for only two hours, after which you have to pay once again. The 
AIYF cannot accept this and will not let such extortion in Alappuzha,” 
he said.
On the other hand, Municipal Chairman P.P. Chitharanjan, a CMS member, 
points out that the Society, which pays salaries to gardeners, cleaners 
and security apart from paying the electricity charges for lighting up 
the shores of the canals here, requires revenue.
“Such fees are being extracted at other beaches in the State. So what is 
the need of such a controversy?” asks Mr. Chitharanjan.





http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/health/s/1071088_homeless_mans_protest

Homeless man's protest

7/10/2008

A HOMELESS man interrupted the Question Time demanding a councillor help 
him get off the streets.

Wayne McCracken, 43, from Salford, says he has been living on the 
streets on and off for nine months after leaving the home he shared with 
his partner because he discovered she was using drugs.

He claimed he had been turned away from one of the city's homeless 
hostels and said he was scared of sharing a room with a drug user after 
finding used needles in a toilet and he complained that day centres for 
the homeless have been closed leaving people with nowhere to go.

Mr McCracken interrupted the event, walking right up to Coun Basil 
Curley, who has responsibility for adult services, grabbed his 
microphone and said: "I'm sleeping on the streets, there is no hostel 
for me to go to, I've been turned away a hostel in Manchester today - 
what are you going to do for me?"

Coun Curley arranged to get Mr McCracken help after the meeting and 
said: "There is no reason for anyone in Manchester to be homeless, we 
have hostels, we have beds for everyone."






http://www.independent.ie/national-news/protest-women-refuse-to-say-sorry-1510479.html?r=RSS

Protest women refuse to say sorry
Duo unrepentant after their verbal assault on minister at the altar
By Ronald Quinlan
Sunday October 26 2008
THEIR behaviour has been described as "rude and bad manners" by one 
Fianna Fail Senator already.
But don't expect Patricia Daly or Margaret Gaynor -- neither of whom is 
over 70, incidentally -- to apologise any time soon for preventing 
Minister of State John Moloney from addressing last Tuesday's medical 
card protest in St Andrew's Church in Westland Row.
Spirited vocal assaults by both women on the Laois-Offaly TD's eardrums 
at the church's altar dominated the newspaper and TV coverage of the 
so-called "grey power" event.
Approached by the Sunday Independent for their response to claims that 
they and their elderly peers were setting a poor example, both women 
were singularly unrepentant.
Patricia Daly, for one, knows full well the impact the Government's 
decision to curtail medical card entitlements for the over-70s will have 
on her role as a senior social worker in Dublin's Sir Patrick Dun's 
Hospital.
American-born but living here in Ireland as a dual citizen for the past 
30 years, Patricia is certainly no stranger to standing up to the powers 
that be.
With 40 years' experience of protesting going back to the anti-war 
movement under her belt, Patricia, it could be said, had seen it all -- 
until last Tuesday's meeting in St Andrew's Church, that is.
Recalling what is now being acknowledged as a momentous event, she says: 
"That was a mass movement; that was spontaneous. It wasn't organised. I 
never met the people around me before. They all shouted Fianna Fail 
down. It wasn't just me. I went up to explain why we were shouting them 
down."
Asked what she had said to a clearly shocked Mr Moloney as he stood 
speechless on the altar, Patricia says: "I said it was no place for 
politicians; that it was a place for older people and for Age Action 
members to be speaking to the politicians. It wasn't a place for 
politicians and it wasn't a place for him."
Given Mr Moloney's mute response and the resulting criticism the church 
protest has drawn, would she now apologise?
The short answer is "no", it would appear.
"In my opinion, we should all have universal health care. It should be 
our right as taxpayers, and they should re-jig the tax regime. I'm not 
going to apologise for interrupting John Moloney. I told the minister 
what I thought at the time, on the altar of St Andrew's, that it was 
inappropriate to have politicians there as speakers. They should have 
been there to listen to older people and members of Age Action like myself."
Commenting on the Government's efforts to arrest the medical card 
controversy, she adds: "It's not an end to it. And I think they're going 
to see that people are going to change the way they vote. A lot of the 
people who were in the church were probably Fianna Fail voters. I know 
from my experience of helping people get to the polls on voting day, a 
majority of older people have been voting Fianna Fail for decades. 
That's going to change."
Patricia's sentiments are echoed by Margaret Gaynor, another protestor 
who seized the moment -- as well as Minister Moloney's microphone for 
that matter -- at the protest.
"I have no regrets over what I have done. And if what I have done has 
helped anybody other than myself, I'll be very happy. Justice is all I 
wanted, and I think that with my words (to Mr Moloney) I said enough," 
Margaret says.
Asked what those words were, Margaret offers a reprise.
"Excuse me, how dare you stand here in front of the Irish people. You 
should be ashamed of yourself," she says, placing dramatic emphasis on 
the word "ashamed".
"He never even answered me. He just had the decency to go red in the 
face," she adds, recalling the junior health minister's reaction.
Margaret is annoyed by the reaction of some politicians and commentators 
to the behaviour of the elderly protestors in the Westland Row church. 
"What would they (politicians) know about manners? Nothing. If they had 
manners, they wouldn't have done what they had done in the first place"
Asked what she made of the apologies from Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his 
colleagues for the distress the medical card controversy has caused, 
Margaret says: "To me, there was no apology. You give an apology to a 
person into their pocket. Words won't feed and keep people well. For 
peace of mind, an apology is of no use."
- Ronald Quinlan





http://www.independent.ie/national-news/budget-2009/news/15000-elderly-and-10000-young-join-in-day-of-protest-1506097.html?r=RSS

15,000 elderly and 10,000 young join in day of protest

Pensioners protest outside Leinster House under a strongly-worded banner 
on the medical card fiasco

By Nicola Anderson
Thursday October 23 2008
THEy came in their thousands, marching as one from all corners of the land.
They were armed only with their free travel passes, the iron in their 
souls, the anger in their hearts and fire in their bellies.
Disembarking from chartered coaches, mini-buses, cars and trains, they 
formed a formidable force of 15,000 and prepared to lay siege to their 
target.
They swept through the streets of the capital with one single goal -- to 
shake Leinster House and deliver a simple message: they will not go quietly.
The Silver Revolution had begun.
The last time many had taken to the streets in this fashion was when 
they were students.
It was an extraordinary coincidence, and a sign of how the Budget has 
alienated so many, that shortly after the pensioners' protest reached 
its climax up to 10,000 third-level students should arrive at the Dail, 
deeply angered over fees.
Like the pensioners, the students came from everywhere, and they brought 
just one message: 'No to fees'.
It was a remarkable day. The elderly and the young taking to the 
streets. When have we we ever seen the like? It was a breathtaking sight 
as our mighty Grey Army mobilised to display a battling spirit few 
realised had lain under the respectability of old age.
A slumbering beast that the Government must most bitterly regret rousing 
with the casual wave of a stick.
But then, these are the people who truly understand that your health 
really is your wealth -- and they were determined to hold on to it, 
whatever obstacle stands in their way.
To most of them, the excursion was a pleasure, a welcome opportunity to 
bond with their peers over their mutual outrage, a chance to hit the 
capital to show the younger generation a thing or two.
And they chatted merrily among themselves as they poured up the city 
streets in a purposeful wave, banners and placards ablazing.
But for some, the mission took all the strength they could muster. The 
chill wind that blustered along Molesworth Street -- despite the 
piercing autumn sunshine -- made the frail shiver and the swell of the 
crowd made the weak feel faint. Some even collapsed. There were the ill, 
there were the cancer sufferers, there were people in wheelchairs, rugs 
over their knees.
Wheelchair-bound Rita Nolan (88) from Castlebar, now living in Dublin, 
had arrived early to take her place in front of the stage for the 
demonstration organised by the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament.
"She insisted on coming," said her daughter Maureen.
Poignant
And so, while the mass turnout of our nation's elderly was humbling and 
impressive, it was also deeply poignant. They should not have had to be 
there at all.
With Molesworth and Kildare streets well and truly filled up in advance 
of the 12.30pm starting time, the rally began.
Maire Hoctor, the Minister for Older People, had been invited to speak, 
but her name was uttered to a chorus of jeers and boos when organisers 
announced she had been delayed. Some 20 minutes later she materialised 
-- but met the same fate as John Moloney had the previous day and was 
barely allowed to speak amid volleys of 'Out, Out, Out' and 'Lies.'
In vain, the Irish Senior Citizens Parliament representatives pleaded 
with them for quiet -- but all Ms Hoctor managed to get in was an 
apology that they had felt compelled to come. There wasn't one colleague 
of hers who did not acknowledge their anger, she said.
She was about to embark on the Government line that 95pc of older people 
would not be affected by the recent changes to the medical card scheme 
when the chants grew even more deafening, and she was forced to retire 
in defeat. The roars of 'Fianna Fail Out' could not fail to have been 
heard along the plush corridors of Leinster House.
Eloquence
As Enda Kenny addressed them with some eloquence, the older people 
chatted among themselves. They were not there for political speeches, 
they were content merely to attend.
A man with a 'No Card, No Treaty', in reference to Lisbon, was 
reprimanded by a woman who said the one issue did not mean the same as 
the other.
A different placard bore a more heartfelt message: 'Mr Cowen, you seem 
to forget we're the ones who tightened our belts. We gave you our vote. 
Then where there were no beds, we lay on trolleys. Now you want to take 
our pills. Do you want to lay down and die?'
Ciaran Cuffe sounded desperate as he pleaded that the Greens had learned 
their lesson from this, saying: "We will never take you for granted." 
Some pensioners chuckled grimly.
"I wouldn't vote for you," one woman in the crowd stopped Liz McManus to 
inform her.
"You don't have to vote for me but I have to vote for you," Ms McManus 
informed her. Caoimghin O Caolain told them not to to stop at medical 
cards -- their grandchildren need them in the fight against increasing 
class sizes.
Joe Higgins, of the Socialist Party, got a warm cheer as he informed 
them this was the biggest demonstration of ordinary people in our 
society "for many a long day"
The rally over, Gerald Whyte (70) from Kerry had a dark take on the 
medical card debacle -- a certain section of society would rather the 
old and incapacitated" dropped down dead", he said, likening the 
situation to Nazi Germany.
- Nicola Anderson





http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7690914.stm

25 October 2008 15:56 UK

Sorting office closure protests
Postal workers, business leaders and local politicians marched through 
the centre of Crewe as part of a campaign to keep the town's sorting 
office open.
Work from the mail centre in Weston is being transferred to a new 
regional centre in Warrington.
Royal Mail has said it wants staff to transfer to the new centre but 
unions have said many workers could not afford to travel or relocate.
It said it could lead to the loss of 600 jobs in Crewe.






http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7675403.stm

Saturday, 18 October 2008 10:45 UK

Mascot leads post office protest

Jolly Fisherman is travelling with dozens of protesters to London
A mascot from a Lincolnshire seaside resort has travelled to 10 Downing 
Street to present a petition opposing the closure of two post offices.
The Skegness mascot Jolly Fisherman made his way to London by coach, 
along with a group of protesters.
The 6,000-name petition, opposing the planned closure of the Sea View 
and Drummond Street post offices, was being handed to officials on Friday.
Post Office Ltd is shutting branches as part of a programme to reduce 
losses.
It wants to close about 2,500 post offices and says more than 80% of the 
rural network is unprofitable.
Strong campaign
Skegness mayor Neil Pimperton said: "The residents of Skegness have 
campaigned for many months and we are fed up with people dictating to them.
"I am not a defeatist and I am a person who says these post offices 
should not be closed.
"We are taking this campaign to the highest level we can to save the 
facilities we have."
He said residents wanted more facilities, not a reduction in the number 
of post offices.
Protesters demonstrated in August over the proposals, with local 
residents saying the branches provided vital services in the area.





http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20081018/NEWS/810180325/-1/newsfront

UMDNJ workers protest stalled talks in New Brunswick
By GENE RACZ • Staff Writer • October 18, 2008
NEW BRUNSWICK —Health professionals and registered nurses staged a rally 
Friday to protest stalled contract negotiations with the University of 
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).
The event, held at the Liberty Plaza building at 335 George St., drew 
approximately 100 people. Union members handed out leaflets while some 
spoke on a bullhorn criticizing the current labor talks with UMDNJ.
"Management has yet to offer a real wage proposal, the university's 
proposal of a salary freeze and added 1.5 percent insurance co-pay is 
unacceptable," said Thomas F. Murphy, co-president of Health 
Professionals and Allied Employees Local 5094. "In these hard economic 
times it's unconscionable that the administration would place such an 
offer on the table. Our health professionals, researchers, social 
workers and nurses are the engine that keeps UMDNJ working. We take 
pride in our work and are asking for respect and recognition."
Jerry Carey, acting manager of the UMDNJ News Service, on Friday 
released a written statement. "UMDNJ certainly understands the views of 
its employees as communicated through their union representatives, and 
the university respects and supports the right of those employees to 
express their views publicly about the current contract situation. As 
always, UMDNJ sincerely appreciates the continued dedication of its 
employees to the people in the state that we serve.
"As is the case throughout New Jersey and the rest of the nation, UMDNJ 
faces difficult economic times. Already, for the current fiscal year, 
UMDNJ has seen its state appropriation reduced. UMDNJ also faces 
increased mandated operating expenses. Despite this, UMDNJ remains 
committed to good faith negotiations that will ultimately result in an 
agreement that is fair to all sides."
The union represents some 12,000 members statewide with 3,200 
represented as part of UMDNJ — 1,100 of whom are nurses. Friday's rally 
by union members was its fourth in as many days. Jean Pierce of the 
union's public policy staff said recent rallies drew approximately 400 
in Newark on Tuesday, 125 in Pisctaway on Wednesday and 35 in Stratford 
on Thursday.
"We want the administration to know how serious we are," Pierce said. 
"This is not just some of the members in Newark, which is a larger 
campus — this is statewide. The nurses and the professionals are angry."
UMDNJ negotiates collective bargaining agreements with 15 separate 
employee unions. The current configuration of UMDNJ is eight schools on 
five campuses, a behavioral health network, and University Hospital in 
Newark.
One of the employees participating in Friday's rally was Judith Cunha, 
who works as an operation support analyst in the information technology 
department for UMDNJ.
"They refuse to negotiate. That's not a negotiation when you're coming 
in and saying, "We're not going to give you anything,' and they're not 
moving," Cunha said.
Pierce said the current labor talks with UMDNJ primarily concern a "wage 
re-opener" in what is a four-year contract.
"We're certainly willing to go to (the bargaining) table," Pierce said. 
"We're in a middle of a four-year contract, we're at two years, and the 
contract that was signed had a wage re-opener in two years — so our wage 
re-opener now is on the subject of wage.
"There are a few other little items."
Pierce said scheduled negotiations with the registered nurses Local 5089 
were canceled by UMDNJ's administration, and no further sessions have 
been scheduled.
"We're going to have membership meetings this coming week and talk to 
the membership and see what the membership is looking to do," Pierce 
said. "We're going to keep the heat up, and what our next move is 
remains to be seen the next week or so."
Gene Racz:







http://www.breakingnews.ie/Ireland/mhidkfmhojau/rss2/

Demonstration to highlight cutbacks in health service
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11/10/2008 - 09:06:56
A major rally is being held in Dublin later today to highlight cutbacks 
in the health service.

It is being organised by the Public Service Health Campaign which is 
made up of union representatives, patients groups and hospital action 
committees.

The campaign has real concerns that Tuesday's Budget will lead to 
further cuts in the health service.

Chairperson of the Monaghan Community Alliance, Peader McMahon, has said 
Monaghan General Hospital is already earmarked for cuts in services 
before the end of the year.

"I think that once people start dying on the roadsides and in the 
ambulances on the way to hospital then we have to convince the 
Government that it is time to reassess the whole situation," he said.