Hackney

The bus company provides Transport for London, school contracts and special need services, and just won a contract for the 2012 Olympics in London.

Action took place between 3.30am and 9.30am on June 2nd, and a second strike is planned for 13th June between 1.30pm and 7pm.

“He was the most modest of men” - Rudolf Rocker
Woolf Wess was born to a Jewish family in Vilkomar (or Ukmerge) near Kovno in Lithuania in 1861.

He was the son of a Hasidic master baker and at age of 12 was apprenticed to a shoemaker.

Bacton Fashions in Hackney was a relatively large clothing sweatshop employing up to 90 workers. Most workers were Turkish or Kurdish, had been living in Britain for less than a couple of years and were waiting for a Home Office decision on their rights to remain.

Most people in Hackney have heard about the protests going on in Broadway Market over the last three months. Since November members of the local community have been occupying Francesca's Cafe and held many protests and public meetings and generated nationwide interest in the campaign.

Squeezed between Debdale Court and the Regents Canal at the Eastern End of Whiston Road, the five-story building will comprise 25 flats and a restaurant.

Nearly two weeks after it was occupied as part of a wider campaign against gentrification and property developers in Hackney, Dalston Theatre remains standing after the occupiers won a high court victory against Hackney Council.

The Cafe was seized to prevent its demolition and conversion into luxury flats by property developer Dr Roger Wratten.

Updates and stories on libcom.org news

27 Mar: The battle of Broadway Market, from Hackney Independent

The following statement was posted on the campaign's website:

EVICTED - BUT THIS CAMPAIGN IS FAR FROM OVER

A street protest has been called at 6pm this evening in front of the café.

More info:
Broadway Markey occupation feature and updates on libcom.org news
http://libcom.org/news/article.php/broadway-market-cafe-occupation-2005-6
occupation homepage:
http://34broadwaymarket.omweb.org/

The occupiers have issued the following statement:

This morning (Monday 20th February) supporters of the campaign against council sell offs on Dalston Lane and Broadway Market in Hackney occupied Dalston Theatre (formerly The Four Aces) and two adjacent houses on Dalston Lane.

The cooks and catering assistants based at 27 schools in the London borough are currently employed by contractors, but say they do not receive the same rates as those directly employed by the council.

Furious local people learned about the scheme only last week though discussions began in October.

Marsh Lane playing fields were singled out by the London Development Agency (LDA) as a prospective site to relocate Eastway allotments from Waterden Road, Hackney, which fall within the 2012 Olympic site.

If the parking attendants vote to strike, the borough's parking restrictions will not be enforced, allowing drivers to park illegally on yellow lines, in controlled parking zones without a valid permit and at parking meters without paying.

Spirit, who runs the Nutritious Food Gallery at no. 71 has a court date on 27th January and may be evicted soon after that.

A statement from the occupiers of 34 Broadway Market follows:

EVICTION THREAT

The cafe had been occupied by local residents for weeks, in protest against gentrification and the cut-price selling of publicly-owned property in the area to developers.

BBC London footage (AVI format, 6.7mb)

Bailiffs and builders trashed the cafe after they and police evicted the local campaigners before Christmas.

Within an hour the building was rendered unliveable.

One of the participants said:
"We lodged an appeal yesterday with the High Court but the bailiffs ignored that and went ahead anyway. Two of the occupiers are at the courts right now trying to get a stay of execution but Wratten's men have done so much damage that it seems unlikely we could re-occupy the café.

The occupation has received widespread press coverage, overwhelming local support and looks set to continue for some time. Hundreds of people have visited the café in the past 14 days bringing food, furniture and donations, over 60 people are on the shift rota and local residents associations have passed resolutions in favour of the occupation with offers of practical support.

The occupation made the front page of Hackney Gazette on Thursday, and has been covered by metamute in more depth, but needs much more publicity and practical support if it is going to continue for more than a few days.