ILLNESS AND WET WEATHER DAMPENS CAMPAIGN

Portland Walk, Barrow,  Saturday 10th March

ACTIVITY SUBDUED IN MARCH
A combination of wet weather and the illness of a couple of anti-cuts campaigners meant that the activity in the town centre was reduced to just two persons distributing People's Charter leaflets at the entrance to the indoor market from 10am until 12 noon on Saturday 10th March.


Surprisingly, the event turned out to be especially fruitful in terms of leaflet distribution and engaging in conversation with individuals and couples who were shopping in Portland Walk.  Most shoppers were of pensionable age and some were disabled but not many young, able-bodied people were about and, of those that were, very few accepted a leaflet willingly.


Unless Barrow Trades Union Council, individual unions, charities and community organisations finally decide to lend their voices to the local campaign then Furness Against the Cuts cannot be sustained for much longer.  If FAC folds then there will be no sign of any local resistence to the Con-Dem government's austerity measures.  Unfortunately, each individual organisation seems hell-bent on working alone, having a one-off, small and very brief protest and then 'disappearing back into the woodwork.'  Just what they think this approach will actually achieve in the long-term is never disclosed.


The Easter holiday has caused cancellation of the April Planning Meeting at Greengate Children's Centre so the next meeting will be held on Wednesday 2nd May.


It is noted that no support for the anti-cuts campaign was offered by any delegate attending the meeting of Barrow Trades Union Council held on Tuesday 3rd April.