Protest, Action & Smart Phones

In the past two decades activists have embraced many new technologies, using websites, message boards and mobile phones to spread their messages, keep in touch and even launch virtual attacks.  This has led to something of an ‘arms race’ with nation states, which are constantly trying to reign in the freedom and anonymity these technologies can offer via both legislation and surveillance technology.

Recently smart phones have been used at many actions by some of those able to afford them (the ’100% off summer sales’ may have been a help here).  They are valuable and versatile tools allowing users to photograph, film, tweet, message and update interactive real-time maps, but they are also a vulnerability mapping your location and even recording everything you do.

It is timely then that a friend of Bristol Afed has produced this guide to utilising them as safely as possible. We strongly recommend anyone with or wanting a smart phone checks it out. All technology carries risks, but used carefully the benefits can far outweigh them.

 

 

CAPITA Dispute continues with new week of strikes

TV Licence workers at CAPITA are continuing their fight for fair pay with a week-long rolling strike commencing this Monday. Support staff on the picket lines!

CAPITA specialise in buying up public sector contracts as they become privatised, they then rake in massive profits by driving down working conditions and wages for staff. Due to TUPE legislation management will initially have to keep all staff contracts the same, however they will quickly use every tactic at their disposal to lower conditions.

TVL workers have seen permanent staff replaced with agency workers at every opportunity, with staff on decent contracts encouraged to leave, meanwhile bellow inflation pay rises or pay freezes have seen their pay effectively reduced since CAPITA took over.  Whist CAPITA is using the current recession as an excuse for this, the argument simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny:

• CAPITA profits have increased substantially in the past two years, despite the recession.
• Profits currently stand in excess of one million pounds a day.
• The contract for TV licencing has been so profitable it has been used as a case study and recently been renewed for another 8 years.
• Whilst low paid workers have had bellow inflation pay offers, the CEO and senior executives have been given a 17% pay increase!

This is the reason workers have decided to demand the pay  they deserve and they know their bosses can afford (a 77% yes vote on strike action). It has already led to several days of strikes around the country, including on November the 30th dispelling the myth that only public sector workers are fighting cuts to their living standards. As CWU assistant secretary Andy Furrey put it “Both disputes are about fairness – fair pay for Capita workers and fair pensions for public sector workers. We both face powerful employers who say they can’t afford more. The truth is that these employers will use excuses to squeeze staff costs for fat cat strategies”.

 

Good luck to everyone on strike, fight ’till you win!

November 30th Strikes, Occupations, Actions!

In the UK (and across the globe) we are seeing through government lies that cuts to our services, pay, benefits, and pensions are necessary (you know, to help out the bankers & capitalists so they don’t have to take a see a drop in their living standards). We’re also organising; Wednesday is set to be the largest strike in ‘a generation’. The strike will be strengthened and supported by a host of other actions that everyone can be a part of, and should be a part of, because the outcome of the battle against the government will affect all of us.

Heres our rundown of what you can get up to on the day:

• Strike  If you’re in a workplace where your coworkers are unionised and striking, even if you’re not in the union you can still strike(see last paragraph). You’ll have the same protections against being penalised as unionsed workers. Don’t cross those picket lines!

• Picket Talking of picket lines, make sure you’re on one! Extra support on picketlines is always warmly received, and class solidarity is one of our most important tools when fighting against the state. Pickets will be outside most government, council and educational buildings from around 7.30am.

• March  Starting at 11am on college green a mass demonstration will march through Bristol to castle park, it looks set to be the biggest since the start of the Iraq war and one of the most lively and enthusiastic ones we’ve had in a long time.

• Uncut!  A group calling itself  ‘Santa Uncut’ has promised to deliver coal to all the ‘naughty’ corporations in the centre of Birstol and has invited everyone who wants to do more than just march to keep their eyes peeled and get invovled.

• Occupy Your University/College to show support for striking lecturers and demonstrate their opposition to the cuts universities accross the country have been going into occupation. If yours is get down there and support it, if not get down there and occupy it!  The UWE occupation is now under way at St Matts campus.

• Occupy Bristol After their recent bank occupations there are  rumours that occupy Bristol will be get involved and up the ante on the 30th.

• Have a Break With the early start and hectic day, you may want to take up Hydra Books on their offer of a complimentary cup of coffee for every striker (scabs not welcome).

If none of the above has inspired you yet, then take a look at this on youtube (contains lots of swearing), and remember even if you’re stuck at home messages of support are welcomed!

Solidairty Forever,

Bristol Afed

1831 Issue 04 October 2011

Latest issue of Bristol AFed’s irregular news sheet 1831

click here to read

Includes:
-Bristol Council’s Plans to close care homes and day-centres for elderly.
-Bristol Uni’s links to the arms trade
-Local nuclear plans
-and more!

Folked up brassed off punk @ The Plough this Thursday

Get down to the Plough (kilburn street easton) at 7.30 this Thursday and check out hyped up street punkers Faintest Idea, Warringtons celtic folkpunkers The Roughneck Riot, and AnarchoPunk troublemakers 51st State! All of this and its only £3 on the door!
Any money after costs will go to fighting capitalism and causing trouble.

Listen to faintest idea here, 51st state here, and watch roughneck riot playing on youtube .
You can also let the CIA know you’re coming via facebook.

A resounding victory for student direct action!

As of two days a go, the UKs longest running occupation ‘the free hetherington’ ended with the occupiers claiming a major victory. Concessions won by the campaign include no compulsary redundencies for uni staff and no more cuts to courses! Check out their full post here.
It just goes to show even when victory seems impossible that by sticking together and refusing to back down we can achieve anything.

1831 Issue #3 OUT NOW

Yes yes, here is the long awaited third issue of 1831, sorry for the delay, it’s worth it we promise!

Click Here to Read

Statement on the June 30th Strikes

Nearly a million workers will be striking and demonstrating on June 30th- workers in education, the civil service and the London underground. This is a further sign of widespread anger within the working class at the package of austerity measures unleashed by the government. We have already had the student demonstration which ended with the Millbank occupation, the huge turnout on March 26th as well as many local actions including strikes, blockades, marches.

1831 Issue 2 Out Now!

Check it out! Here’s the latest issue of our news sheet to read online. Hard copies are available around Bristol at social centres, autonomous spaces and events as well as from Bristol Anarchist Federation and Taunton Activist Collective.

We hope to get it out in more cafes and bars this time too.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
* The June 30th Public Sector Strike
* Inside Apple’s factory
* Banksy at the Anarchist Bookfair
* Direct Action at Office Angels
* Fighting back against benefit cuts
* Wanker of the month award

Click to View

Beyond Borders

In case you haven’t heard Bristol No Borders are hosting some speakers from around the country for a day of talks and discussions around the ideas of free movement and the resistance of migrant workers to the conditions imposed on them by the capitalist system.

 
We urge everyone to attend, as these ideas are increasingly relevent and integral to our stuggles. As the state has made cuts to services it has hit migrants first and hardest, to the state(and far right) they are seen as a useful scape goat and a vulnerable testing ground for ideas they wish to push on to all of us (eg ID cards). The bosses pushing down pay and conditions will turn towards their treatment of staff ‘without papers’ as a blueprint, and use their very existance to devide the workforce. It is essential we, and our class as a whole, see past these attempts to split us and stand in solidarity against our ‘leaders’ and bosses.

 
Clara Osagied has been fighting tirelessly for the rights of migrant cleaners as a volunteer with the RMT. This is despite working five nights a week as a cleaner on the underground herself. Her talk on migrant workers struggle shouldn’t be missed by anyone with an intrest in workplace organising and union action. The other guests are Ann Singleton from state watch and Bridget Anderson from oxford universities Justice For Domestic Migrant Workers Campaign. There will also be plenty of time for discussion, plans, schemes and new ideas. Plus there will be food and almost certainly cake.

Hope to see you there, easton community centre 21st May (This Saturday!) 11:30 – 17:30.

(Also don’t forget its kilnaboy, spanner, anarchofolko, half boy half nachos, Dj Olifka and miss fit playing at the plough afterwards in aid of no borders).

Timetable & More info here