The week at Middlesex...

I thought I'd paste edited highlights from an email by a friend at Middlesex University to let you know about important anti-cuts events there this week!

The lecturers' union UCU will be taking strike action on Thursday 24th March. Middlesex University Students Union (MUSU) in solidarity with the staff are asking students not to cross the picket line, and to stage a walkout. In the next week, you'll be seeing more materials around the campuses from Monday onwards. I have a feeling this could be a big day, the word is spreading quick amongst students and staff.

On Friday 25th March the Rave against the cuts festival will be held in Hendon - during the day we'll have stalls including the Barnet TUC, as well as Defend education society stall. In the evening, there will be a live event night, and tickets are now on sale for the great price of £3. I would urge you all to spread the word and let's make this a great event.

Last but not least is the 26th March National Demonstration in central London organised by the TUC. This will be one of the biggest so far, with numbers expecting to be around a million strong. The Middlesex block will meet at the National Gallery in Trafalgar square (nearest tube Charing Cross), please remember to wear red to signify we're all from Middlesex.

However it is important to remember the 26th is not the end, but the beginning of resistance in this country.

Here's hoping!

Next Saturday... at long last

With all that's being thrown at us by the current government, socialists and trade unionists despaired that it took the TUC so long to organise, well, anything in response.

Finally a day was set for a demonstration... 26 March. Too late! many of us cried, too little too late. That's as maybe now. The fact is that the TUC's "March for the alternative (jobs, growth, justice)" is finally upon us. Let's make it a good one.

Here's Barnet Unison's advice on where Barnet folks can meet up to march as a block - if they like:

Public Services...Don’t wait until they’re gone to defend them!

Trade Union members, friends, work colleagues, families, community groups and residents from Barnet are going to march together as a community.

Join us on Saturday 26th March 2011 and say NO to unfair and unnecessary spending cuts!

Meeting places in Barnet:

Finchley Central Tube Station: 9-9:15am (sharp)

Brent Cross Tube station: 9-9:15am (sharp)

Final rendezvous is outside the Savoy Hotel*, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU from 9:30am till 11am, nearest Tube Leicester Square.

March starts from 11am at the Embankment and marches to Hyde Park for a rally from 1.30pm.

* = Scene of Peasants Revolt 1381.

For a more modern take on the peasants revolt by the volunteers campaigning to save Barnet Museum, see here.

Lorraine on the bus - About 26 March

Feeling shy? A secretary from south London does a spot of old-fashioned agitation on her bus journey, telling people why they should come on the 26 March TUC 'march for the alternative'.