SWU calls members to join the national rally & march on the Conservative Conference: No to austerity, Yes to workers’ rights

Sunday 4 October 2015, 11.00am - 16.00pm, Manchester

SWU says: “No to austerity, yes to workers' rights”
As the Conservative Party Conference meets in Manchester this year, SWU members are being asked to join with thousands of their fellow trade union activists and supporters to march through the city, taking a clear message to the Conservative Party about the Government's damaging programme of austerity and their attacks on the rights of working people and their unions.

Why is SWU marching?
On Sunday 4 October, the Conservative party will open their annual conference in Manchester. After five years of austerity, falling living standards, pay freezes and huge cuts to public services, a new parliament won’t offer a fresh start to working people and their families.

Trade unions have a proud tradition of standing up for workers, their families and the services everyone uses. So now the government is threatening the right to strike.

In the trade union bill, they propose to make it harder for unions to take strike action to oppose their cuts. They want to make it harder for workers to speak out – allowing employers to use agency workers to break strikes and putting huge restrictions on pickets and protests. In short, they want to silence millions of union members and threaten their right to strike.

SWU President Dave Allan is urging members to support this march and rally organised by the TUC:

“SWU’s membership needs to stand united with the TUC and speak out now. Join us at the march in Manchester on Sunday 4 October and help us send a clear message to the Tory Government: social workers say, ‘No’ to austerity and ‘Yes’ to workers’ rights.”

What's happening on the day?
11.45am  Assemble with SWU at the entrance to All Saints Park, Cavendish Street
12.00pm  Move to Oxford Road from All Saints Park southwards
13.00pm  Opening rally
13.30pm  March through the city on a route that circles the Conference Centre, ending at Deansgate/Whitworth Street

Form up from 12 noon
The march will form up along Oxford Road from the main stage area at All Saints Park.

Rally from 12.30pm
The rally commence from 12.30pm. Speakers will begin at 1pm. The first part of the rally will take place while the march is static and at 1.30pm the march will move off. Speeches and music will continue as the march progresses and passes the stage, meaning that participants towards the back of the march will also get a chance to hear contributions as they are moving off.

Click here to view the full march route.

Click here to view public transport and organised coach details.

Click here to view accessibility arrangements.

Follow the demo on Twitter by using #No2Austerity