Update on speakers at Birmingham for the Alternative

Frances O'Grady, TUC Deputy General Secretary

As the march and rally for the Alternative approaches we are able to give more information on speakers at the rally.

We are delighted to announce that the TUC Deputy General Secretary, Frances O'Grady, will be joining us fresh from our Congress in London. Frances has worked tirelessly to support the Bombardier workers in Derby and we are expecting a contingent from the plant to march with us on Sunday.

Lee Barron, chair of the Midlands TUC and Regional Secretary of the CWU will host the rally.
We have already announced the presence of a number of General Secretary's including the GMB's Paul Kenny, Bob Crow from the RMT, Billy Hayes from the CWU and Mark Serwotka from PCS.
We are delighted to have three teaching union general Secretaries in Christine Blower from the NUT, Chris Keates, NASUWT, and Mary Bousted, ATL.
Sharon Palmer, Chief Executive of Regional Action West Midlands, will speak on behalf of the voluntary sector in the region and we have Jack Dromey MP for Erdington. 
Roger McKenzie, Assistant General Secretary of Unison returns to the region to speak on behalf of his union.
We shall have a speaker from a local disability group, and are waiting confirmation of the Unite speaker.
(Please note this is not the final running order)

Birmingham for the Alternative update

As the day of the Birmingham for the Alternative march gets closer, the final arrangements have been made to make this a highly visible event and a key element in the Midlands TUC campaign to promote an alternative to the governments policies of slash and burn.
We are delighted to announce further speakers including the General Secretary of the RMT, Bob Crow. Bob has been a key player in the campaign to keep midlands jobs at Bombardier in Derby, together with the TUC's Frances O'Grady who has made significant interventions to support local rail jobs.
Both will be speaking at the rally in the Ludgate Hill car park at the end of the march.

March and Rally - Birmingham for the Alternative

This year the Lib Dems are having their annual conference in Birmingham and the TUC is organising a march and rally to show opposition to the Coalition Government's disastrous policies of pay freezes, cuts and attacks on public services that are producing rising unemployment, cuts in living standards and stagnation. The march will also show the support for The Alternative. We need jobs, growth and justice for a sustainable future and this event will send that message loud and clear.

Date: Sunday 18 September

Assemble at 11 am on Granville Street B1 1JW
Speakers include: Frances O'Grady, Deputy General Secrtary of the TUC, Billy Hayes CWU, Mark Serwotka PCS, Christine Blower NUT, Paul Kenny GMB
We call for the maximum support and are specifically asking unions and trades councils to:

•Encourage all your members to attend, a flier is available to download [PDF] and printed copies are available, to order leaflets e mail mkesterton@tuc.org.uk clearly stating the number of leaflets wanted and a postal address for delivery, allow 5 working days for delivery ,

•Let us know if you are booking transport and we can give advice on drop off, parking and collection,

•To ensure that we have an effective and safe event we need a number of stewards and all affiliates are asked to nominate a number of stewards, please e mail contact details of potential stewards to mkesterton@tuc.org.uk

•Consider making a donation to help fund the campaign.

There will be provision for marchers with disabilities, including a short route. It would be helpful if organisations could give as an indication of what their members access requirements are and we will do our very best to ensure that they are met.