The Annual General Meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council was held on February 14th.
The meeting elected Val Thomas (NASUWT) as Chair, Georgina Haseldine (Unite the Union ) as Vice Chair, Dave Brinson (NUT) as Secretary, and Gordon Dyer (Unite the Union) as Treasurer. Lee Comfort (Unite the Union) was nominated as Publicity Officer.
The meeting welcomed Tom Mellish from the TUC, to speak about campaigning priorities for the TUC and how Trades Councils can be involved. Tom talked about building on recent campaigns against cuts and for fair pensions for all- and how we need to continue bringing ordinary union members into this work. He talked about some of the organising successes of unions in reaching out to unorganised groups of workers, and the situation of working people in tourism and leisure in our town was highlighted.
The meeting also presented the Len Caine award: in honour of a man who gave more than 50 years service to the Labour and Trade Union movement in Eastbourne. Len was secretary of the Trades Council for many years, and also served as Labour group leader on the Borough Council. He was active in many campaigns, as a school governor, as a member of the Community Health Council, and in housing and youth centres. He was made an honorary Alderman of Eastbourne in the 1990's. Len sadly passed away, but the Trades Council continues to honour him through this award for a local trade union representative. (Pictured left- Len Receving a National Merit Award from the then-Prime Minster Tony Blair in 1999)
The 2012 recipient of the award is Jim Gotobed- recently retired after many years as a Unite the Union representative at Sainsbury's. Jim continues to be an active member of the Union, and serves on their Regional Council. Jim spoke warmly about Len Caine's contribution to the movement, and how it was an honour to receive the award in Len's name.
The meeting also agreed to try and organise a coach to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in July- more details to follow.
The meeting elected Val Thomas (NASUWT) as Chair, Georgina Haseldine (Unite the Union ) as Vice Chair, Dave Brinson (NUT) as Secretary, and Gordon Dyer (Unite the Union) as Treasurer. Lee Comfort (Unite the Union) was nominated as Publicity Officer.
The meeting welcomed Tom Mellish from the TUC, to speak about campaigning priorities for the TUC and how Trades Councils can be involved. Tom talked about building on recent campaigns against cuts and for fair pensions for all- and how we need to continue bringing ordinary union members into this work. He talked about some of the organising successes of unions in reaching out to unorganised groups of workers, and the situation of working people in tourism and leisure in our town was highlighted.
The meeting also presented the Len Caine award: in honour of a man who gave more than 50 years service to the Labour and Trade Union movement in Eastbourne. Len was secretary of the Trades Council for many years, and also served as Labour group leader on the Borough Council. He was active in many campaigns, as a school governor, as a member of the Community Health Council, and in housing and youth centres. He was made an honorary Alderman of Eastbourne in the 1990's. Len sadly passed away, but the Trades Council continues to honour him through this award for a local trade union representative. (Pictured left- Len Receving a National Merit Award from the then-Prime Minster Tony Blair in 1999)The 2012 recipient of the award is Jim Gotobed- recently retired after many years as a Unite the Union representative at Sainsbury's. Jim continues to be an active member of the Union, and serves on their Regional Council. Jim spoke warmly about Len Caine's contribution to the movement, and how it was an honour to receive the award in Len's name.
The meeting also agreed to try and organise a coach to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in July- more details to follow.
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