Musicians and Speakers rally at Dorchester Corn Exchange event to defend public services on October 6th. Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland Trades Unions Council are calling on local people to support public sector workers across the county, and are putting on a event featuring a mix of speakers, music, comedy, film and stalls, all based around the theme of Defend Public Services to highlight the effects that the proposed cuts will have on have.
Dorset faces huge cuts in services that could mean many people facing redundancy, something that will not only impact on these individuals and their families but also the wider economy as people have less money to spend in the shops or on services.
Speakers including Paul Kenny, General Secretary of the GMB union and Peter Allenson, national organiser for public sector workers with Unite will be sharing the platform with folk rock band Pressgang and standup poet Elvis McGonaggal.
Wally Gundry from the Trades Council said “Public services are at the heart of Dorchester, with nearly 60% of the working population of the town employed in this sector. If we start seeing mass redundancies across this area then the impact on Dorchester, and communities like it, will be immense. It will hit all parts of the local economy, such as retail, and other private businesses. Eventually, the impact will be felt by us all through issues such as reduced house prices”.
He continued, “The cuts proposed by this Con-Dem government are part of an agenda left over from the Thatcher era and was not part of the manifesto of any of the political parties. It runs the risk of reaping havoc on the working families of Dorset and should be stopped. I am therefore pleased that the workers of this town are seeing fit to unite in this way to express their concern at what is happening in our name!”
Headliners, Pressgang, are a folk band like no other. They take traditional songs into places that no other band dares to go. New sounds from an accordion, whirling dervish instrumentals, acapella singing and rapping are just a taste of the full ingredients. Add to this dancing, storytelling, drama and audience participation and you’ll have an idea of the stage show that got them all over Europe and the USA.
They will be joined by singer songwriter Jonny Neesom. Jonny is a graduate of Billy Braggs “Jail Guitar Doors” project and has been touring the country over the past year and has played alongside the likes of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and Mick Jones as well as joining Billy on stage at the Tolpuddle and Glastonbury festivals.
Other speakers from across the country include, Vicky Boroughs from Unison and John Drake from the Fire Brigades Union and South West TUC as well as local speakers.
The event is free and the doors at the Corn Exchange open at 7 p.m.. More details can be found by calling Wally Gundry (Dorch TUC) on 01305 266194 or via email on wgg@talktalk.net
