Havering union members protested against government’s austerity measures

� Union members from Havering joined 150,000 people as they marched through London to protest over the government’s austerity measures.

The Havering Unison group, who were joined by members of TUC, GMB, Unite, NUT, Nasuwt, and OCS on Saturday, said they wanted the government to throw out its austerity and cuts’ agenda.

They included nurses, midwives, care workers, street cleaners, hospital porters and librarians.

‘Vibrant

Marshajane Thompson, from Unison Havering, said: “The march went very well with a vibrant atmosphere.

“I marched to stand up for public services locally in Havering but also for the NHS and for the future of my children.

“This government keeps on cutting and telling us there is no alternative, but there is. The banks and the millionaires are not suffering and the message from the 150,000 people in London and the tens of thousands of people marching in Belfast and Glasgow on Saturday was we need a future that works for the millions not just the millionaires.”

Unison has since asked the government to change its tack and take urgent action to revive the economy and pull families out of financial hardship.

Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said: “The bottom line is that the government’s austerity agenda is creating a stagnating economy and causing misery to millions of workers and their families.

“The toxic combination of a pay freeze and inflation is undermining growth and making it harder for public service workers – including nurses, care workers, paramedics, dinner ladies, cooks and cleaners – to make ends meet.

“NHS and local government workers deserve better – they have put in for a substantial pay rise to start to close the gap made by rising inflation and the pay freeze.”