Video from 12th April 'Books and Beds demo'

Thanks to Arnie Johill for directing, producing, soundtracking and uploading this video of EAPS last protest on the 12th April.

Angry Ealing Residents Protesting for Their Books and Beds

The demonstration attended by 80 local residents and health workers convened at 5.30pm outside the gate house, entrance to the West London Mental Health Trust, where 700 health workers jobs are under threat as part of the Tory governments £20bn in so called 'efficiency' savings.

The depth of feeling people have for the NHS, and against the actions of this government was very evident yesterday, from people attending the demo and from passers by offering their support as well.

We listened to a few speeches before setting off, this is Nick Grant NUT and Steven Ellis of Unison telling it as it is.

We marched along in front of the hospital to noisy chants of 'Andrew Lansley go to jail, the NHS is not for sale.'

A crowd of 20 demonstrators mainly local children were already outside the Hobbayne centre where the consultation on the future of Hanwell Library was taking place. The chanting changed as we reached the destination of the meeting to 'Ealing council hear us say, Libraries are here to stay.'

Yesterday witnessed what will be the beginning of the fight back in Ealing against this ideologically motivated attack on our public services from the Tory government, cuts that 'Margaret Thatcher could only dream about' as Tory MP Greg Baker described them.

The cuts maybe Thatchers dream, the fight back will be from her nightmares.

Save our Books and Beds. Protest 12th April Ealing Hospital

Our public services are being slashed by the ConDem government. But people are resisting their agenda. Half a million people took to the streets on 26th March in defence of public services. 

A fightback has begun that has already seen protests of health workers, and nursing and medical students, plus a nationwide day of action to defend the NHS just last week. The government has now decided to ‘pause’ its health ‘reforms’, showing how weak the ConDems really are.

In Ealing, almost 1500 NHS jobs are set to be axed, and part of Ealing Hospital’s A&E is being handed to a private company. Recently, Ealing Council cut it’s mental health day care service, reasoning that treatment was available through the NHS but now it faces massive cuts too.

Occupational Therapists and libraries are the latest on the chopping block. Ealing Council plans to close five libraries, cut book budgets and opening hours in those that remain, and turn others over to be run by volunteers. The libraries selected for closure – Hanwell, Perivale and Northfields and the Mobile Library - are used by some of the most vulnerable people, who cannot easily travel, and rely on the library as a social, educational and entertainment life line. 

It’s time to stand up and say we aren't going to pay for financial problems we didn’t cause. The money is there to pay for public services if the government wanted to find it – the £123bn of tax dodging by the rich would be a good place to start. Join our protest – together we have the power to save our services!

EAPS Founding Statement

92 activists gathered in Acton High School on 11 November 2010 to launch Ealing Alliance for Public Services (EAPS). An agreed statement says that:

We believe that the austerity programme planned by George Osborne will increase unemployment and poverty, by dismantling the welfare state and public services.

We pledge to resist all welfare, benefit and pension cuts, as well as job losses, service closures or reductions and privatisations of essential services.

We want to see more not fewer jobs for all, especially the young, created through public investment in areas such as a National Climate Service.

We pledge to support all local, national and international protests and industrial action to oppose every form of austerity measure.

The event was sponsored by Ealing UNISON and NUT branches, Ealing Trades Council, the Right To Work campaign and the Labour Representation Committee.