Public sector workers in Wythenshawe are joining more than a million across the country on strike over pensions, job cuts and pay.

Some schools will be closed in the strike – the biggest since the coalition government took power in 2010 – involving teachers, firefighters, civil servants and local government workers.

In a message to workers across the public sector on strike, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Across the public sector workers are on strike today to say enough is enough. Year after year pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living. Public sector workers are on average more than £2,000 worse off under this government.

“Nearly half a million local government workers earn less than the living wage. But even as the economy starts to grow, ministers have told them that the pay cap will last until at least 2018.

“This is why today’s strikers deserve public support. They are saying that ordinary workers should not be locked out of the recovery, and that we should all get a fair share as the economy grows again.”

The TUC says that since the government took office, a combination of pay freezes and below inflation pay increases have left local government workers, NHS staff, teachers, firefighters, civil servants and other public servants on average £2,245 worse off in real terms.

Government Minister Francis Maude condemned the strikes, saying that although he recognised public sector workers are facing tough times, the government has to have pay restraint to tackle the deficit.

Prime Minister David Cameron said a future Conservative government will take action to ensure strikes will only be legal if they are supported by a majority of the total membership of a union – a move criticised by unions who point out the current government was elected by just 38 per cent of the electorate.

Strikers across Manchester will meet at 12:30pm in  Piccadilly Gardens for a rally featuring a range of trade union speakers.

Staff and pupils from Saint Paul’s Catholic High School in Wythenshawe joined together to take part in a Race for Life to raise funds for cancer research.

The school saw the event as an amazing way to celebrate life but also to remember those who have been lost to the disease.  Continue reading “Wythenshawe pupils in race to fight cancer” →

Residents will get the chance to boost their IT and computer skills over the next six months in a series of free classes aimed at getting Wythenshawe online.

The Get Online Wythenshawe initiative run by Wythenshawe Community Housing Group features a computer recycling centre that refurbishes computers and sells them at a discounted rate to Wythenshawe residents.

And over the next six months, residents will be able to access skills courses on how to use IT facilities at the following venues:

• Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre – Wednesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm; Thursdays: 1:00pm -2:30pm
• Tree of Life, Greenbrow Road – Fridays: 10.30am-12.00pm
• Royal Oak Community Centre – Tuesdays: 10:30am-12:00pm; Wednesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm
• Benchill Community Centre – Tuesdays: 1:00pm-2:30pm; Wednesdays: 10:30pm-12:00pm

Trafford-based social housing procurement consortium, Procure Plus, has recently begun work with local digital training initiative by donating vital pieces of computer equipment.

The GOW pilot project is aimed at tackling the “digital divide” to help improve the skills of Wythenshawe residents by offering IT tutorials and reduced price desk top computers and laptops.

Chris Bennett, systems support officer at Procure Plus, commented: “Being digitally literate is increasingly important for our members’ residents, particularly with the introduction of the Government’s ‘Digital by Default’ initiative, which means benefit forms and submissions are increasingly web based.

“Local employment, training and education opportunities are vital for community regeneration and development and, by donating computer equipment to GOW, we’re helping Wythenshawe residents improve their prospects online.”