Campaigners are taking to the streets of Newcastle to protest over the cost of living crisis and the "shocking" sacking of 800 P&O workers.
The People’s Assembly has organised demonstrations across the UK this weekend, as the cost of living crisis continues to intensify. Thousands of people will take to the streets on Saturday including residents in the North East who will meet at 11.30am at Newcastle's Civic Centre before a rally is held at Grey's Monument at 12.00pm.
Saturday's Cost of Living Crisis demonstrations will be the third in a series of protests organised by the People’s Assembly supported by trade unions and campaigners. The first two saw thousands protest against the "lack of action from the Government" to support those suffering hardships as fuel and food prices rise.
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Campaigners say Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Spring Statement last week did "nothing to allay fears" about soaring fuel bills and sharply rising inflation. It was accompanied by further warnings from economic experts, with some predicting that inflation will rise above 10%, whilst pay is failing to keep up.
The People's Assembly said this means people are struggling not just to pay bills, but their rent too. The average UK wage is £25,971 – an increase of 0.2% since 2020, while the average rent is £1,059 (an increase of 8.2% over the same period.
From April 1, OFGEM will lift the UK energy bill price cap by 54% leaving the poorest 10% of families facing energy costs rising by an average of £724 a year (seven and a half times more than the richest 10%).
On their website, the People’s Assembly urged people to come out and raise their voices this weekend, saying: "Public outrage over the Cost of Living Crisis is growing fast, and our response is gaining momentum. Right now is the time for us all to come together in unity and build our collective resistance. Now is the time to get out onto the streets to send a clear message to the Government that we refuse to pay for their crisis."
The People’s Assembly will be joining forces with trade unions, including the RMT, who represent many of the 800 sacked P&O workers. At the rallies, trade union representatives will express their anger at the mass sackings and ask for solidarity across the country to highlight opposition to the actions of P&O.
Trade union speakers will also highlight the weakening of employment rights and the anti-trade union legislation as the underlying causes of the P&O scandal. Campaigners say the sacking of 800 P&O workers, amid the cost of living crisis that has seen energy costs soar, is "a callous act", which has shocked people across the country.
Former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who will be speaking at the London demo, said: "The Peace and Justice Project is proud to be supporting this demo. With rising fuel, food, and energy bills, the soaring cost of living is pushing millions into poverty, and the disgusting treatment of the sacked P&O workers needs urgent action from the government.
"Demonstrations will be taking place all over the country, with thousands of people coming together to demand redistribution of wealth and power and decent wages for all, as well as justice for P&O workers. Join your local protest and make sure your voice is heard.”
Laura Pidcock, National Secretary of the People’s Assembly, who will be speaking at the Liverpool demo, said: "What people are experiencing is intolerable. No matter how patiently we explain that Government inaction over soaring energy and fuel costs and sharply rising food prices is deepening poverty, misery and hunger, it is met with, at best indifference and at worst more of the same.
"The truth is, they are so wedded to the economic system we have, comfortable with a hands-off approach - that even when markets are obviously failing us, they continue with business as usual.
"We tell them about children going hungry and the Government shrug, politically speaking. Our anger and frustration with them must be directed and organised to build pressure on them. We have to unite all of our working class causes into one massive, united coalition against this Government. If, like us, you are angry about the state of things, please join us on Saturday 2nd April."
