WHAT IS THE PEOPLES ASSEMBLY?

The founding conference of the People’s Assembly in 2013. Photo: Jim Thatcher

The People’s Assembly:

Founding Statement - (updated December 2022)

  1. Is a broad, united, national campaign against austerity, cuts, and privatisation in our workplaces, public services and communities.
  2. Is not linked to any political party, and is committed to open, non-sectarian practice – to supplement, rather than supplant trade union, student, anti-racist and climate activism in our workplaces and communities
  3. Is supported by trade unions affiliated nationally, regionally and locally, anti-cuts campaigns, and other student, pensioner, unemployed, disabled people’s, women’s, black people’s, youth, and LGBTQ campaigning organisations through their participation in Local Group structures and the National Steering Committee.
  4. Is also supported by a network of activist members, organised in local and regional groups. Our members take part in the democracy of the People’s Assembly via our annual conference and through Local Group structures.
  5. Encourages members and Local Groups to organise to support trade unions taking action to defend workers and alongside local campaigns to highlight the cost-of-living crisis and combat profiteering and privatisation in our communities.
  6. Aims to support, encourage, and coordinate joint action. Our goal is to build activists’ confidence and experience rather than to command activity.
  7. Organises newsletters, a website and social media communications, and hosts meetings, conferences, lobbies, rallies, marches, demonstrations, and other events.
  8. Opposes any and all claims that it is possible to “solve” the crisis by discrimination or scapegoating on grounds of disability, race, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, age, sexual orientation, or identity.
  9. Is resolutely internationalist in its outlook and liaises closely with similar peoples’ movements in other countries resisting cuts, privatisation, and attacks on the working class.
  10. Is committed to the defence of the NHS, the welfare state and our public services, to action that raises people’s living standards and to developing an alternative programme for economic and social change.