Launch of Sussex Trade Union Network

We have been contacted via Jonathan Lee of Unison NHS Healthcare branch about this important organising event. All local trade unionists encouraged to attend:

This is the commencement of a Sussex-wide organisation of trade unionists and campaigners to unite the resistance against the Government’s austerity drive, its privatisation plans for the NHS, its attack on public services and those who work for the local councils, its benefit cuts and dismantling of the welfare state, and its privatisation of education.

 The aim is to establish a functioning and developing network of solidarity and resistance across Sussex. This network of resistance will mobilise support, publicise campaigns, organise solidarity, and coordinate protests and resistance. It will focus on the defence of:

·      the National Health Service, and will resist closures of hospitals and clinical units, and the privatisation of treatment and care;

·      the welfare state, and will campaign against the bedroom tax and the attack on disabled people’s benefits and their security;

·      the services provided to the local communities in Sussex by those who work for our local councils, Government departments, public services and utilities (libraries, parks, revenue, planning, building, social and probation services, refuse and environmental services; postal, fire and ambulance services  etc., etc.);

·      education as a public good that has economic benefits to the region and the country and which offers our children hope for their futures (and will campaign against Academies, tuition fees in Higher Education, the privatisation of schools, colleges and universities, and for a restoration of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)).

NONE OF THESE SHOULD BE RUN FOR THE PROFIT OF A FEW.

NONE SHOULD BE ORGANISED FOR MARKET COMPETION RATHER THAN FOR QUALITY AND SAFETY

The first meeting will take place on Saturday 6^th July at the University of Brighton, Pavilion Parade, Brighton, as an all-day event (11am to 4 pm) so that trade unionists and activists can come together FOR THE DAY to share experiences, build trust and confidence in each other, and to begin to plan a defence against the Government’s privatisation offensives and continued attacks on jobs, pensions, services and trade unions.

 

 

 The programme will include national speakers from trade unions and campaigns involved in resisting austerity and from local trade unions and campaigns involved in defending jobs, pay and services and trade union rights. It will hear from members of trade union national executives and committees leading the call for action against austerity; those campaigning against academies, against victimisation and for the right to protest and from local activists from across Sussex defending the NHS, opposing the privatisation of education, fighting assaults on pay and conditions, finding new ways of organising resistance and leading campaigns against the Bedroom Tax and other attacks on welfare and benefits.
 

 Sussex Trade Unionists signing letter calling for the Network and/or attending the organising meeting and/or asking to be named as supporters include Brighton & Hove Trades Council and (pc): Tom Hickey & Nadia Edmond (UCU University of Brighton); Jonathan Gilhooly (UCU City College); Alex Knutson & Andy Richards (Unison Brighton & Hove); Jonathan Lee (Unison Hastings & Eastbourne Health); Dave Fellows (Unison East Sussex); Lee Billingham (Unison Adur & Worthing); Charles Herrity (GMB); Dave Chivers (CWU); Dean Tulley (Unite Gatwick); Gary Hassell (RMT Brighton); Clive Bryant & Fay Westbrook (PCS R&C Worthing); Steve Banfield (PCS DVLA Brighton); Aidan Pettitt (PCS Dept for Education); Phil Clarke (NUT East Sussex); Lou Hayton (NUT West Sussex); Phil Mellows (NUJ).

EMAIL n.edmond@brighton.ac.uk FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE A PLACE