Marchers End 156 Mile Trek To Join Saturday’s London Demo

Three anti-cuts marchers from Cardiff will end a gruelling 156-mile trek in London on Friday on course to join hundreds of thousands of people for the TUC's A Future that Works demo on Saturday.

PCS rep Richard Evans undertook the same journey alone last year for the march held in the capital on 26 March, and was introduced on stage at the rally in Hyde Park by TUC general secretary Brendan Barber.

This time he is joined by firefighter Cerith Griffiths, a Fire Brigades Union rep, and teacher Steffan Ap Dafydd, of the National Union of Teachers. Leaving Cardiff last Saturday morning the trio is due to arrive in London on Friday evening, where a welcome party is being planned.

Richard Evans said:

"The cuts being made under so called 'austerity measures' are vicious and hit the most vulnerable in our society hardest, while those who can afford to pay more get tax breaks. This is our opportunity to tell this government how we feel."

Cerith added:

"We now see 1,500 fewer firefighters, 130 fewer control staff and 700 fewer support staff since the coalition government was formed. The FBU and fire chiefs are warning a further 2,500 firefighters could lose their jobs along with the closure of 31 fire stations. This puts everyone at risk."

Steffan, a Welsh teacher and local historian, said he was marching to protect education:

"One hundred and eighty years ago, only one in five men, and no women, had the vote. The rich kept workers down and bent the law to keep trade unions out.

The descendants of those rich boys do not care about you and me. They still cut tax for themselves and cut pay and benefits for teachers, other working people, the poor, the disabled and pensioners."

Source: PCS

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