Get involved- latest campaigns in the South East

Latest campaign information and resources from the South East Region of the TUC

European TUC Day of Action & Solidarity Wednesday 14 November  "For Jobs & Solidarity in Europe. No to Austerity" 

Wednesday 14 November including strikes, demonstrations, rallies and other actions

• Oxford trades council is staging a lunchtime protest in the Cornmarket 12 noon to 1pm. Contact them here.
•  Coalition of Resistance demonstration and rally "Europe against austerity" 5pm Smith Square London
• ETUC list of actions taking place across Europe
• ETUC newsletter number 70

Regional Trades Council actions

• Kings Lynn trades council final Women for Change lecture Saturday 17 November 11.30am Kings Lynn with Cristel Amiss from the Crossroads Women's Centre in Camden. Contact them here. 
• Bromley trades council AGM Thursday 22 November 6pm HG Wells Centre, St Marks Road, contact Paul Rooney

Union actions:

• Unite defend the Agricultural Wages Board, lobby and rally now Monday 12 November Old Palace Yard 12.30pm 
• Unite lobby against attack on National Terms and Conditions, Bromley Council Monday 12 November 6pm at the Civic Buildings. Contact for details here.  
• RMT Charles Watkins Memorial Lecture Tuesday 27 November 7pm London with Professor Roger Seifert
• RMT is seeking as large a turnout as possible at its demonstration on Sunday 18 November to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Kings Cross fire and to highlight the continued need for a full staffed and safe tube network. 11am outside Kings Cross station.
• PCS forum to expand on the alternatives to the austerity agenda 7pm London Wednesday 28 November with Mark Serwotka PCS, Dexter Whitfield author, Nick Wrack TUSC  Contact here for more information.  

Other Events and Actions:

• Campaign for State Education conference "Picking up the pieces" Saturday 17 November London.
• Solace Women's Aid "Rock against violence" fundraising event Tuesday 20 November 7pm Islington
• Andrew Wiard photographic exhibition in Congress House to Friday 16 November
• Latin America 2012 conference "Making a better world possible" Saturday 1 December 9.30am London  
• NHS Ipetition  in defence of Lewisham A&E and Maternity Services.
• Institute of Employment Rights one day conference "Equality and Discrimination" Wednesday 5 December 9.30am London with Sally Brett TUC and many others.
• War on Want greetings cards and gifts available here
• Cuba Solidarity Campaign greetings cards featuring the paintings of Miami Five prisoner Antonio Guerrero, proceeds to the Free the Miami Five Campaign. 
• East London Federation of Suffragettes public meeting "Learning from great campaigners 100 years on" hosted by Tower Hamlets Labour Party and the East London Fawcett Society supported by Unison Wednesday 14 November 7pm with Professor Mary Davis historian and Tower Hamlets Councillor Rachael Saunders
• National Assembly of Women conference "Women, power and politics. Sisters fight back" Saturday 17 November Unison Centre London. Speakers include Sarah Veale TUC, Gloria Mills Unison, Megan Dobney SERTUC, Councillor Barbara White.

Resources and Information:

• TUC Labour Market Report number 30 October
• Economics: the plain truth A series of briefings for Reps and Activists. No.1: Government Debt
• SERTUC pay seminar 3 November - the powerpoint presentations from Heather Wakefield (Unison) and Enrico Tortolano (PCS)
• PCS briefing on the latest attack on civil service terms and conditions
• Low earners have suffered the weakest earnings growth over the last 26 years, with link to Office for National Statistics figures
• Unions in the community new website with dedicated area for trades councils

Trades Council Meeting: November 13th

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 13th November, at 7.30pm, at the Unite Eastbourne Centre, Grand Parade, Eastbourne.

 

Our guest speaker is Garry Hassell from the RMT, who will be speaking about the Action for Rail campaign, which is supported by RMT, Aslef, TSSA and Unite. The campaign seeks to make the case for a publicly owned rail system run for people not profit. You can read more about the campaign at their website here: http://actionforrail.org/

 

All local trade union members, including retired trade unionists, are welcome to attend the meeting, which will also discuss other business, including the next steps following the well-attended 20th October march, and other local campaigns.

THE AGENDA WILL BE:

1. Introductions and apologies for absence
2. Approval of new affiliations.
3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising

4. Guest Speaker: Garry Hassell, Action for Rail/ RMT

5. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer
6. Any other Campaigns: Colleagues invited to provide information on their Unions’ local and national campaigns, and any support that the Trades Council could give.
8. Any other business.

A Future that Works: Well Done Eastbourne

Well done to those local trade unionists who joined the other 150,000 people on the march yesterday. Eastbourne was represented by colleagues from Unison, NUT, Unite, CWU, NUJ, GMB, PCS as well as comrades from Eastbourne Labour Party.

Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary of the South and Eastern Region of the TUC writes:-

"The TUC reports that 150,000 of us marched against every political thread of this government's policies for A Future That Works.  And SERTUC union branches and trades councils were at the centre of it

So many thanks to all the officers and activists who mobilised their members in their thousands to bring the message that austerity isn't working to the attention of our people.

It is possible that the government will not back down as a result of the march... we will now progress the fight further by increasing our effort on publicising the alternative, so as a starter come to next Saturday's SERTUC Regional Council to hear Frances o'Grady (TUC General Secretary Designate) outline the next steps (all SERTUC trade union members welcome but registration is essential at dlewis@tuc.org.uk)

And then come to the SERTUC pay seminar to hear and discuss with our excellent platform the underlying political attack on workers' wages and what we need to do."

SERTUC "Ending the Low Pay Culture" seminar Congress House Saturday 3 November 10am to 1pm. Register on sertucevents@tuc.org.uk

Chair Tony Lennon BECTU & SERTUC Vice-President.  Speakers include:-

o Duncan Weldon TUC Senior Economist
o Helen Kersley New Economics Foundation
o Heather Wakefield Unison Head of Local Government
o Enrico Tortolano PCS Research Officer
o Andrew Murray Unite Chief of Staff

Closing Remarks Megan Dobney SERTUC Regional Secretary

March for a Future that Works

The TUC has called a mass demonstration against the cuts, for SATURDAY 20^TH OCTOBER in London. Hundreds of thousands of trade unionists and others are expected- and Eastbourne Trades Council will be proudly marching with our banner. (Click here for more details of the TUC march and campaign)

If you would like to join us on the march, we may be able to offer  FREE train travel from Eastbourne on the day.  The Trades Council, with support from NUT, Unison and PCS  is funding a number of places on a group ticket to and from London to take part in the TUC March for a Future that Works.

We will be departing from Eastbourne at 9.58am  and returning on the 18.17  train from Victoria, arriving back in Eastbourne at around 8.00pm

PLACES ARE LIMITED- so if you (and your partner, friend etc) want to join us, please sign up by clicking the link HERE.  

There is also a train booked from Brighton- if this is more convenient, please contact Phil Clarke, General Secretary of the Brighton Trades Council by clicking here.

Ending the Low Pay Culture- a SERTUC Seminar: London, 3rd November

South East region TUC is hosting a morning seminar in the wake of the TUC's mass demo for 'A Future that Works' on October 20^th.

Looking at ending the low pay culture, the seminar will address: 

• Trends in workers' pay since 1975,
• Increasing workers' pay- negotiating success
• How the government's proposals for regional/local pay are not evidence based
• How workers' wages are a critical pillar of the trade unions' alternative economic strategy.

Chaired by Tony Lennon, SERTUC vice president, guest speakers will include Duncan Weldon, TUC senior policy officer, Helen Kersley of the New Economics Foundation, Heather Wakefield, head of local government for Unison and Enrico Tortolano, national research officer for PCS.

The seminar is FREE and directed towards reps, activists and union officers.

Date: Saturday 3 November

Time: 10am - 1pm (followed by lunch)

Venue: Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

Cost: Free to attend but registration is essential

MEET THE NEW TUC GENERAL SECRETARY

There is also an opportunity to hear Frances O’Grady TUC general secretary designate address the  SERTUC Regional Council meeting. This will be just one week after the March for a Future that Works.

All trade union members from the South East may attend as observers to the meeting to hear Frances, although advance registration is essential. Congress House 10am on Saturday 27 October. Contact Darren Lewis at SERTUC-  dlewis@tuc.org.uk

DGH: Still Time to Act !

The public consultation on services at the District General Hospital ends on the 28th September. There is still time to have your say !

Eastbourne Trades Council  are proud to be supporting the cross-Party Save the DGH Campaign, which is fighting to defend core services at Eastbourne District General Hospital:

• Acute medical emergencies (eg Heart attacks and Strokes)
• Acute surgical emergencies (eg severe abdominal pain and fractures)
• Acute psychiatric emergencies (eg psychoses and para-suicide)
• Consultant led Obstetrics
• Acute Paediatric emergencies (eg epiglottitis, croup and fractures)
• Diagnostic services to support all of the above

The campaign believes that ALL of the above MUST be retained at the DGH, to properly serve Eastbourne and District.

Please take a few moments to take the following action:

1) Take part in the public consultation, and make clear that you are not in favour of any single-siting of these core services.   Suggested answers to the consultation can be found here.

2) Write to the Secretary of State for Health urging him to take action to intervene and instruct the Board to retain services at the Eastbourne site.  There is a model letter you can download here.

3) Visit the Save the DGH website, and show your support on Twitter, Facebook etc.

 

Brighton TUC- Protest at Lib Dem Conference

The Liberal Democrats- junior partners in the coalition Government- will be holding their Annual Conference just down the coast in Brighton later this month.  Our colleagues in Brighton Trades Council will be staging a protest against the austerity policies of their Government on Saturday 22nd September.

Brighton Trades Council are pointing out that:

"The government has embarked on an unprecedented programme of cuts and privatisation.

Schools, hospitals, councils, benefits, the welfare state is torn apart while jobs are lost and pay is cut, Debt reduction through 'austerity' in Britain and across Europe has now been proved not to reduce deficits, but it is part of a massive transfer of wealth from the poor to the very richest.

The Lib-Dems prop up a government that has seen the wealth of the richest 1,000 people increase by £78 billion since they took office. This is the party who pledged to scrap tuition fees and protect EMA, yet EMA has gone and tuition fees have been tripled. "

Trade unionists are urged to join Brighton unions and anti-cuts activists in a march and rally- assembling at The Level, Brighton, at mid-day on Saturday 22nd September. For more information, visit the Brighton Trades Council website here.

Stephen Lloyd to meet Trades Council

The MP for Eastbourne, Stephen Lloyd, will once again be our guest speaker at the Eastbourne Trades Council- on Tuesday 18th September.

While we don't always agree with Stephen, he has taken a keen interest in the work of the Trades Council, and union members in the town. Stephen spoke to us last year, and we were pleased to hear an update on his work in Parliament and in the town, followed by a full and frank discussion on policy questions !

Stephen will once again speak to us about his latest work- and we expect there to be a particular focus on the all-party Save the DGH Campaign of which both Stephen and the Trades Council are supporters. 

All local trade unionists are welcome to attend the meeting with Stephen at Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne on Tuesday 18th September at 7.30pm.  PLEASE NOTE CHANGE FROM USUAL VENUE !

The meeting will also discuss other business, including the arrangements for the October 20th National Demonstration in London, called by the TUC.

THE AGENDA WILL BE:
1. Introductions and apologies for absence
2. Approval of new affiliations.
3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
4. Guest Speaker: Stephen Lloyd MP
5. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer

6. National Demonstration- October 20th
7. Any other Union Campaigns: Colleagues invited to provide information on their Unions’ local and national campaigns, and any support that the Trades Council could give.
8. Any other business.

 Any apologies, or requests for information, to the Secretary please

All out for the DGH on September 15th !

The Save the DGH Campaign have called a protest march from the Redoubt fortress at 10.00am on Saturday 15th September to oppose the plans to potentially remove stroke care, orthapedics and general surgery from the Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Chair of the campaign, Liz Walke told the Eastbourne Herald this week:

“We need more than 5,000 people,and need to make sure the Trust knows just how many we are representing.

If these services go, it is inevitable that others, such as maternity and paediatrics, will soon follow. If we miss this opportunity we won’t be able to oppose future plans because the infrastructure needed for departments like maternity will have already gone.

Anyone who does not think it is acceptable for patients in need of emergency, possibly life-threatening medical treatment, to have to endure a 30-minute ambulance journey to Hastings before that treatment can be started needs to join the march. This is our big chance to show we do not want the DGH to become a cottage hospital.”

All local trade unionists and others are stongly urged to join the march, and to meet at the Redoubt at 10am, with a rally starting at 11am.

Brighton Trades Council- Summer Action

Our colleagues in Brighton Trades Council have a number of important campaign events coming up over the summer. Eastbourne trades unionists are welcomed and encouraged to support.

Tuesday 17th July: Defend the NHS Public Meeting
Called by local NHS Union Branches and supported by Keep Our NHS Public 7:30pm, Friends Meeting House, Brighton.

Tuesday 7th August: Brighton Stop the Cuts Organising Meeting 
7:30pm King and Queen Pub.

Sunday 9th September:  Lobby the TUC for Co-ordinated Strike Action Against Austerity! Organised by National Shop Stewards Network, and supported by Brighton Trades Council. A march to the lobby will begin at 1pm at the Level. A rally addressed by Mark Serwotka (PCS General Secretary) and Bob Crow (RMT General Secretary) will follow the lobby.

Saturday 22nd September:  No to Austerity Government! Lib Dem Conference Demonstration  Meet at the Level Midday then march to Conference Centre. Organised by Stop the Cuts and the Brighton Trades Council

Saturday 20th October: Mass TUC Demo, London  A reserved train from Brighton is being co-ordinated by the Brighton Trades Council. Contact your own union branch in the first instance to book a place. Non-union member booking info to follow

Save the DGH- mobilise on 28th July !

There is a public “consultation” meeting by the hospital trust on the future of services in Eastbourne on Saturday 28th July at the Congress Theatre. Local campaigners from the cross-party Save the DGH Campaign will be mounting a demonstration outside, from 10.00am to show the strength of local support for a full range of services to remain at our local hospital !

Liz Walke has led a superb campaign over many years to protect the ongoing threats to maternity, cardiac and even Accident and Emergency services at our local hospital. The Save the DGH campaign is supported by all three main local political parties, the Trades Council, churches and many other community groups, as well as thousands of individuals in our town.

All local trades unionists are urged to go along on 28th July and show your support- 10.00 am at the Congress Theatre.

Local Pay- bad for Eastbourne

We all want to see fair pay for the nurses, teachers and others who work hard to deliver good public services. But on top of pay freezes, the government now wants to change the way pay is set in the public sector.

Instead of a fair, transparent national system, they want local or regional pay that would mean different rates for people doing exactly the same jobs, just because of where they live.

Here are just five reasons why it doesn’t add up:

• It’s unfair:  Regional pay could mean two nurses or teachers with the same skills and experience being paid differently in two different places – even though they’re doing the same job. People should be paid based on their skills and the work they do, not where they live. Low pay could make it harder for poorer regions to attract and keep the skilled public sector workers they need.
• It’s bad for the economy:  Public sector workers are already feeling the pinch from pay freezes, the VAT rise and inflation. Regional pay would mean holding back pay for even longer in the parts of the country that are struggling the most.  Holding back public sector pay will take money out of public sector workers’ pockets that they would otherwise spend in local shops and businesses.  
• It isn’t backed up by evidence: The government has argued that public sector pay stops the private sector growing. In fact, there’s no evidence to support this. There is an average of five  people chasing every job vacancy, and up to 30 unemployed people per vacancy in some areas. It’s the lack of demand in the economy, not the wages of nurses and teachers that is causing the problem.
• It isn’t what the private sector does: Most big private sector employers recognise that a national system is the fairest and most efficient way to set pay. In fact, companies like Waterstones, Greggs,  Marks and Spencer, BT and Halfords all take the same sort of approach as the public sector: a national pay system with limited additions for London and the south east of England.
• It’s unpopular: According to a recent opinion poll only 28 per cent of voters believe the idea of extending pay freezes for public sector workers outside of the south east and London would be fair. As few as 17 per cent believe that real term pay cuts for public sector workers would help low pay regional economies. It’s time that coalition MPs listened to their constituents, heard their concerns and put a stop to these damaging and divisive plans.

It isn’t just about a North-South Divide !   Eastbourne has long been a “low wage” economy within the South East.  The Education Secretary’s speculation about schools introducing “local market-facing pay” could even lead to Eastbourne teachers being paid less than their colleagues in Brighton- regardless of where they live !

   

For more information, go to www.tuc.org.uk/payfair for information and materials, plus tips and links to help you contact your MP or  local newspaper.

Police Commissioner Elections: Ask questions, then vote !

The July meeting of the Trades Council  was pleased to welcome author and journalist Paul Richards to talk about the forthcoming Police Commissioner elections.

Paul was a special adviser to the last Government on Communities; and was an unsuccessful candidate for Labour’s nomination for the Sussex election. However, as a committed trade unionists, and a  Unite and NUJ member, we thought Paul would be ideal to talk to us  about the role of the commissioners !

Trade Unionists should consider the fact that the elected commissioner will set the budget headings for Sussex Police and its strategic priorities.

Paul highlighted the different attitudes likely to be taken by candidates on issues such as community policing, hate crime (especially race and LGBT) and protecting both uniformed and support staff jobs from cuts and privatisation.

The commissioner will also have control over the budget allocated for Victim Support work, and we should ask serious questions about how this will be allocated.

Paul spoke of the likelihood that the racist BNP will target this election, and that racist and fascist parties tend to do well when there is apathy and a low turnout- which is why it is vital that all trade unionists vote and encourage their workmates to turn out and have their say.

Eastbourne TUC, like all trades councils and the national TUC,  is party-politically independent and does not endorse any individual party or candidate. We urge all local trade unionists to read all of the material, follow all of the campaigns and weigh up the issues for themselves- then make sure you turn out to vote- and encourage others to do the same !

THE POLICE COMMISSIONER ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY 15^TH NOVEMBER.

Trades Council Meeting: July

There will be a meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council at 7.30pm, Tuesday 10th July, at the Unite Eastbourne Centre (formerly T&G) , Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists are invited, (although only delegates from affiliated unions may vote on financial and policy matters.)

The guest speaker will be local Unite member, author and campaigner Paul Richards.  Paul was a Special Adviser on Communities to Hazel Blears in the last Labour government, and had sought the Labour Party nomination for the forthcoming Police Commissioner election.  Although Paul was unsuccessful in this, he still has a lot of information and ideas about these important first elections.

Paul will be speaking about the Police Commissioners, the role and powers that they will have, and how trade unionists should be getting involved.  (Note: The Trades Council is party-politically independent, and does not support or endorse any party or candidate. Paul is invited as an expert speaker and a long-standing Unite the Union member !)

THE AGENDA WILL BE:
1. Introductions and apologies for absence
2. Approval of new affiliations.
3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer
5. Paul Richards- Author and Unite member- The Police Commissioner Elections

6. Priorities for Summer campaigning

7. Any other Union Campaigns: Colleagues invited to provide information on their Unions’ local and national campaigns, and any support that the Trades Council could give.
8. Any other business.

 Any apologies, or requests for information, to the Secretary please

Remploy- Well Done: more to do !

Well done to all Eastbourne Trades Unionists who e-mailed Tory Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan-Smith over plans to sack over 1,500 disabled workers in the Remploy factories.

Sally Kosky, National Officer of Unite the Union writes:-

"Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your emails to Iain Duncan Smith - he's had over 12,000 of us telling him to keep his hands off Remploy, and we're not letting up!

Overnight, we had this billboard put up outside Chingford station, slap bang in the middle of the work and pensions minister's constituency - and a mere 350 yards from his office. We just went to see it this morning, and we think it should get his attention nicely:

Can you help us spread the photo far and wide online to get more support for the Remploy workers? Use the links to share it right now on Facebook or Twitter.

Thanks all! Together, we're making this an issue that'll be hard for the minister to ignore for much longer.

Best,

Sally Kosky

National Officer

Unite the Union

P.S. If you'd also like to share the photo with friends and family by email, please send them this link

In Memorium

Eastbourne Trades Council pays tribute to two long standing friends of the trade union movement in Eastbourne, who have recently been taken from us.

TONY RIDDINGTON was a stalwart of the Labour and trade union movement in Eastbourne over many decades. A TGWU (now Unite) activist, Tony was a proud member and officer of Eastbourne Labour Party, standing for election many times in the Langney and St Anthony's area of the town. He also served tirelessly as the Secretary of the Trade Union Club in Seaside.  Tony was also an officer of the Eastbourne Trades Council for many years, and it was a great sadness to us that he was unable, for health reasons, to return to activism when the Trades Council was reformed in 2011. Tony passed away suddenly but peacefully at home on Thursday May 24th.

Tony's funeral will be on on June 15th at Eastbourne Crematorium, at 1.45pm. All friends welcome- please wear colours.  Family flowers only or donations for Cystic Fibrosis Trust or St Wilfrid's Hospice to Serenity, South Street Eastbourne.

ROY MARTIN represented the Musicians' Union on the Eastbourne Trades Council up to his untimely death, and was a regular attendee at our meetings. As well as being a popular local jazz musician, his background was as an electrician, and he was for many years an activist and convener for the EEPTU union- now part of Unite- of which he also remained a lifelong member.  Roy was a Liberal Democrat councillor for Polegate North on both Polegate Town Council and Wealden Borough Council, and for many years also served Polegate on East Sussex County Council.  Roy sadly passed away on Wednesday 30th May. He was 86 years old.

Funeral details to follow.

Stop the coalition sacking 1,500 Disabled workers ! Send a message today.

Unite the Union (and other unions such as GMB representing workers in the Remploy factories, which provide work for mostly disabled workers) are campaigning against the appalling decision by Iain Duncan Smith to shut down 54 Remploy factories and throw 1,518 staff on the dole.

Len McCluskey, Unite General Secretary, writes:

"Dear Friend,

Sacking decent workers makes no sense.

In a shameful move, the Tory Work and Pensions Minister Iain Duncan Smith is trying to shut down 54 British factories and throw 1,518 hardworking people on to benefits. Even worse, these are Remploy factories – so the workers he wants sacked are mostly disabled.

Help us keep British factories open for business and stop this government putting disabled workers on the scrap heap.

 

Click here to send a message to Iain Duncan Smith, asking him to meet with Remploy workers. It won’t take you more than a minute to do – but it’s a minute that could save the jobs of over a thousand disabled people.

 

Shutting down Remploy shows just how heartless and arrogant this government is. In fact, Iain Duncan Smith told a Remploy worker to her face that he wanted to make her unemployed so he could give someone else a “proper job”. 

 

This is unjustified and nasty. As a union official I had responsibility for Remploy’s workers and I know firsthand that they absolutely do “proper jobs”. Remploy is a brilliant testimony to the British manufacturing industry and it provides real work for disabled people in this country – and we should be proud of it. 

 

I know too that Remploy is much more than a workplace to its staff. Steve Collins, a worker in North Staffs factory, told us that his job at Remploy "saved his life", offering him somewhere he can earn a dignified living, after years of bullying in mainstream employment. This is what Remploy means to its workers – and why we can’t just let it be destroyed.

 

Tell Iain Duncan Smith what you think of his decision to throw 1,518 hardworking disabled people on the scrap heap. Ask him now to save British factories and jobs.

 

Closing down our factories and forcing people on to benefits makes no economic sense at a time when more than two million people in this country are out of work.

 

With the full force of our members’ voices, we can put enough pressure on the government to save Remploy. Thank you for standing up for these workers."

 

Standing up for Jobs and Education

NUT and NASUWT members took solidly-supported strike action over proposed job cuts at Sussex Downs College last week.

While the Unions welcome progress that has been made through negotiations with SDC management to reduce the number of redundancies, members still face significant cuts in hours.

The unions warn that cuts may lead to increased workload for  members, higher class sizes and less teaching time for students. They are bad for NUT and NASUWT members and bad for education.

Division Secretary of the East Sussex NUT, Dave Brinson explained:

"We are calling on SDC management to take urgent further action to avoid job reductions and losses. However we recognise that significant blame lies with recent savage Government policy towards post-16 education:

·         Independent research published recently (by the Institute for Fiscal Studies) has provided details of the impact of the cuts on the post-16 sector.  Sixth form funding will be cut by 17.6 per cent in real terms over the period to 2014.

·         The Government’s cuts come at a time when the increase in the education participation age to 18 will put additional pressure on individual colleges.  The increase in the participation age must be fully funded – instead the Government is cutting 16-19 funding in an attempt to implement increased participation on the cheap !

·         The abolition of the EMA has affected student numbers, as it has deterred many potential students from lower-income backgrounds"

The strike mainly involved teachers at the former Park College, where most staff were NUT and NASUWT members. The rest of Sussex Downs College is organised by the UCU Lecturers union, who are also in dispute with the college over cuts, but did not take strike action this week.

Eastbourne striking for Fair Pensions

Workers in Eastbourne will be taking strike action in defence of their pensions this Thursday.

Across the public sector schemes, the Government is demanding that front line staff work longer (to 68), pay more (a 50% increase in pension contributions), and get less through “career averaged” schemes, linked to the inferior CPI measure of inflation.

In Eastbourne, the PCS Civil Servants' union will be mounting a picket line at the DWP Job Centre Plus in St Anne’s Road, and members will also be taking action at other civil service sites in the town. They will be joined by Unite the Union members in the NHS, and by the UCU lecturers’ union at Sussex Downs College.

Members of the striking unions will be marching and rallying- with a demonstration in Brighton, and, nearest to Eastbourne, a march from Hastings Pier at 11.00am, organised by our brothers and sisters in the Hastings Trades Council.

Colleagues in the Police Federation, the Prison Officers' Union POA and the National Association of Probation Officers will be staging a national demonstration over pensions on the same day.

Teachers in NUT and NASUWT remain in dispute with the Government over pensions. The NASUWT has a current "work to contract" action in schools, and both Unions are expected to announce dates for strike action imminently.

 The PCS union explains the reasons for the strike:-

"The government want PCS members to:

·         Pay more – Extra pension contributions have been imposed for most civil servants –with further increases planned for the next two years.

·         Work longer – Civil service retirement is now linked to the state pension age – that’s already rising to 68 and the government says it will get higher.

·         Get less – Changes to indexation from RPI to the lower CPI inflation mean pensions fall by 15 to 20%.

And a two-year pay freeze is to be followed by 1% rises. New regional pay plans mean that everyone outside London might face further cuts.

We can’t afford not to.

Civil servants and other public sector workers are uniting to defend everything we have worked for. The government is:

·         Making civil servants pay up to three times as much for smaller pensions after working up to eight more years – or even longer.

·         Freezing wages while prices are soaring

The latest scheme is regional pay – which would mean wage cuts for everyone outside London. The strike is your chance to take a stand with colleagues from across government departments and with other trade unions across the public services.We are demanding real negotiations with the government, not imposed cuts.

Who else is involved?

Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers across the civil service, the health service and education will be joining the 10 May walkout."

You can find out more from PCS about the strike by clicking here

You can find more from lecturers' union UCU by clicking here

You can find out more about the Unite the Union health action by clicking here.

Eastbourne marks Workers Memorial Day

Today is International Workers Memorial Day, and local trade unionists were in Terminus Road urging local people to remember those who have died at work or as a result of their job. Dozens of Eastbourne residents stopped to sign the giant Remembrance Card, and to take information about the Trades Council's safety campaigns.

Workers’ Memorial Day is not just symbolic- it is a time to remember real working people in our local area who have died as a result of accidents or illnesses caused at work.

We urge you to remember:-

ROY TRUNDELL (Eastbourne Buses employee- killed in a workplace accident in 2008)

CLIVE BECK (former Eastbourne schoolteacher- died of Mesothelioma. The shelves in his school cupboard were made of asbestos.)

BOB TOLLY (Eastbourne gas fitter- died 2006, also of Mesotheleoma. Exposed to asbestos during his working life. )

SIMON JONES  (Student killed by a crane at Shoreham Port, on his first day.)

 

GEOFF WICKER and BRIAN WEMBRIDGE (East Sussex firefighters killed in action fighting a blaze at a firework factory in Lewes)

AND ALL THE OTHER LOCAL WORKING PEOPLE KILLED AT WORK. REMEMBER THE DEAD… FIGHT FOR THE LIVING !