June 30th Strike Action

Across the country unionists are going to the picket lines in opposition to public sector pensions being cut. In London the Education Activist Network will bring students out to protest in support of lecturers. Elephant will be covering the day as it progresses live from the streets and in our newsroom. Get information to our journalists by tweeting @elephantstudent or using the hashtag #elestu

While the Guardian are also running a poll: bit.ly #j30 #june30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:07:12 AM
10.05am: The PCS picket line remains outside Euston Tower. We follow a group of protesters to Regent's Place. "Atos kills, close it down".

by Lauryn Katie Murdoch via email 6/30/2011 9:07:25 AM
NUT speaker is telling us his school and parents tried to bully staff into not going on #strike #j30

by caztellations via twitter 6/30/2011 9:07:38 AM
A local woman stops by for a few moments to show a bit of east end solidarity, in passing she tells me and Alex Penn that she wishes us all a good future and that she prays for us. Perhaps an ominous statement but heartfelt nonetheless

by Mark Birrell via email 6/30/2011 9:10:35 AM
"This sort of strike never achieves anything apart from damage" David Cameron's quote in CaptainSKA's latest single bit.ly/captska #J30

by caztellations via twitter 6/30/2011 9:12:04 AM
Coffee break!

by Mark Birrell via email 6/30/2011 9:13:02 AM
Quick pit stop. All pushing on at around half 10.

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:13:45 AM
Reminder that we're liveblogging today's goings on here: bit.ly #j30 #june30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:19:46 AM
10.20am: Activists criticise the government for their lack of financial support for disabled UK citizens.

by Lauryn Katie Murdoch via email 6/30/2011 9:20:45 AM
'Congratulations' - Passing Cyclist

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:21:07 AM
And that's for the @elephantstudent. Who I'm helping out, from 200 miles away :) #j30 #june30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:22:45 AM
A student protesting in Windrush Square, Brixton: yfrog.com

by Joseph Stashko via Yfrog 6/30/2011 9:23:55 AM
Missed UKUncut breakfast outside British Library, very small group of protesters still present. Some police and Library Security outside. Heading towards Lincoln Inn Fields now..

by Alexander Badrick via email 6/30/2011 9:29:09 AM
Anyone on protests today, send me your photos and I'll add them to the @elephantstudent liveblog. #j30 #june30 #ukuncut

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:30:17 AM
Indymedia 'text to tweet" - text short reports to 07943103736 #j30

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:33:47 AM
A comment from a teacher:
I entered the teaching profession 20 years ago. I knew that I would never be rich - but trusted the government to stand by the contractual arrangements I entered into with them at that time. When a private company breaks its contract with you you have legal recourse. The courts cannot overturn parliamentary statute. The question that needs to be asked is what happened to all of the contributions made by teachers in the days when they retired at 60 and died at 70. If that money had been invested (as in a 'real' pension scheme) rather than used to cross-subsidise other government spending I guess the scheme would not be in the mess it is in now. Why should the government be able to unilaterally break its contract with me when I am more than half way through my career?

by badly let down edited by Matthew 'TK' Taylor 6/30/2011 9:34:21 AM
Just got a first comment on the liveblog. A teacher talks about being let down: bit.ly #j30 #june30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:35:28 AM
** Birmingham ** Loads of support for the council picket lines from drivers in Birmingham-80-90% of cars + vans r beeping their horns! #j30

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:37:02 AM
People over at Hackney Community College twitpic.com

by Joseph Stashko via Twitpic 6/30/2011 9:37:02 AM
** Manchester ** Demo starts at all saints park in 20 minutes #j30 #strike

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:38:35 AM
** Truro ** Speeches have started on lemon quay in Truro. 100-200 people here. Good turn put for Cornwall. #j30

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:39:05 AM
Strikers at Holborn Station

by Caz Parra via mobile 6/30/2011 9:39:05 AM
People are due to begin demonstrating in Manchester's All Saints Park in 20 minutes. #j30 #june30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:39:14 AM
A protester let's his er, feelings be knowing about Michael Gove RT @SubtleBlade: #j30 twitpic.com

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:39:57 AM
Arriving at the hub in Holborn, the presence is steadily increasing

by Mark Birrell via email 6/30/2011 9:40:24 AM
Four police vans drive pass Holborn station, sirens on ringing loud. #j30 #strike #J30Strike yfrog.com

by caztellations via twitter 6/30/2011 9:42:00 AM
In turn at least 4 riot vans have moved briskly past us. The protesters however seem thoroughly unprepared for violence, the mood is angry, but that anger is very much directed at the Tories, not other members of the public or private property

by Mark Birrell via email 6/30/2011 9:42:09 AM
** London ** Arts against the cuts meet-up point at UCU picket line outside Central St Martins, Southampton Row at 10.45am #j30

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:43:07 AM
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Demonstrations outside Holborn Station.

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:46:23 AM
'My teacher already has to mark my homework. Don't give them this crap as well!!!' small child's placard outside Holborn..

by Alexander Badrick via email 6/30/2011 9:46:44 AM
#ff @brightonsolfed for Brighton news - check out the crowds at beginning of march twitpic.com #j30

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:47:17 AM
Just passed 4 police vans on the walk to Lincoln Inn Fields..

by Alexander Badrick via email 6/30/2011 9:47:50 AM
Childmade banners to professional ones. The unity and diversity of protest is on a large scale.

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:48:32 AM
** London ** Trafalgar Square occupation camp kettled yfrog.com #j30 #solidarity

by n30strike via twitter 6/30/2011 9:48:54 AM
Mark Bergfield, head of the Education Activist Alliance says, "it's looking very big and lively all we need to make sure of is that we don't lose momentum after today but continue the fight."

by Ozzy Amir via mobile 6/30/2011 9:50:19 AM
Beatles lyrics mixed into placards in Brighton (via @subtleblade) twitpic.com #june30 #j30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:50:28 AM
This kid is pleased to be here. His parents allowed me to photograph him with his placard #j30 #J30Strike #strike yfrog.com

by caztellations via twitter 6/30/2011 9:50:30 AM
People of all ages taking part today.

by Ozzy Amir via mobile 6/30/2011 9:52:04 AM
Whistles, leaflets,union paper, banners, all being handed out outside holborn station. Hundreds walking down lincoln inn fields. Union stands littered around the square. Police talking casually with the activists. 'Let's not be fooled as who our friends our' Speaker for Communist Party of Great Britain.

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:52:44 AM
Placards ready to be given out #j30 #J30Strike yfrog.com

by caztellations via twitter 6/30/2011 9:53:26 AM
Police stopping certain individuals and searching bags.

by Ozzy Amir via mobile 6/30/2011 9:55:54 AM
While everyone concentrates on #june30, Jeremy Hunt has just approved News Corp's BSkyB takeover: bit.ly #j30

by JosephStash via twitter 6/30/2011 9:56:21 AM
'Cut the war not education'.

by Alexander Badrick via email 6/30/2011 9:57:58 AM
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People's Assembly speaker

by Alexander Alexson Penn via email 6/30/2011 9:58:22 AM
The view from Trafalgar Square: yfrog.com

by Joseph Stashko via Yfrog 6/30/2011 9:59:32 AM