Leeds union members this lunchtime urged shoppers and city centre workers to sign a mass petition against impending public sector cuts in the government's spending review, which is due out next month.
Members of Unison erected a tent on Briggate and encouraged people to sign the petition, which also opposed job losses. Officials said that it was the start of a month of activism in Leeds ahead of the government's spending review at the end of October.
Also planned are two large joint trades union rallies in Leeds on 20 and 23 October. The union also plans protests nationally during the next month, including a major rally in Sheffield, home of deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
Tony Pearson, regional organiser for Leeds, said that cuts were already starting to bite into frontline services in Leeds. He cited the 70 or so jobs lost at Leeds City College over the summer and the possibility of redundancies in the careers service as examples. Pearson added:
"These cuts might be a saving to the treasury but they're reducing the opportunities for youngsters to get into the Labour market in the future."
The government has said that cuts are necessary to reduce the country's budget deficit.
Meanwhile, BBC staff who are members of the National Union of Journalists, Bectu and Unite are set to strike for two days next Tuesday and Wednesday outside the BBC offices in Leeds. Union members are seeking an improved deal over staff pensions by the end of this week.
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