Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 12th May

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 12th May, 7.30pm at the View Hotel (formerly known as the Unite/T&G Eastbourne Centre), Grand Parade, Eastbourne. 

Megan Dobney, the Regional Secretary of the TUC will be our guest, and will speak and lead discussion on the priorities for the movement following the General Election.   Derek Hansford from Hastings TUC and the proposed County Association will also report on the recent SERTUC AGM.

All local trade union members, including retired trade unionists, are welcome to attend the meeting.

THE AGENDA WILL BE:

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Approval of new affiliations.

3. Minutes of previous meeting (January) and matters arising. Copies of the draft minutes of the March AGM will also be available for information.

4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer

5. Guest Speaker: Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary of SERTUC, on campaign priorities for the trades councils.

6. Report on SERTUC AGM from Derek Hansford (Hastings Trades Council)

7.  Update on arrangements for an East Sussex County Association of Trades Councils- including to agree our affiliation fee.

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

9. Any other business.

The bar will be open afterwards !

Today is Workers' Memorial Day

Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don't die of mystery ailments, or in tragic "accidents". They die because an employer, a contractor or even a manufacturer decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. Today, Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates those workers.  Find out more by clicking here

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. On 28th April- we urge you to remember:-

• ROY TRUNDELL (Eastbourne Buses employee- killed in a workplace accident in 2008)
• CLIVE BECK (former Ratton School teacher- died of Mesothelioma. The shelves in his school cupboard were made of asbestos.)
• BOB TOLLY (Eastbourne gas fitter- died 2006, also of Mes...otheleoma. Exposed to asbestos during his working life.)
• SIMON JONES (Student killed by a Crane at Shoreham Port, on his first day.)
• DANIEL HAFFENDEN (Eastbourne tyre fitter, killed in a work accident in 2012)
• GEOFF WICKER and BRIAN WEMBRIDGE (East Sussex firefighters killed in action fighting a blaze at a firework factory- Lewes)

 and all the other local people killed whilst doing their job.

 

 MOURN FOR THE DEAD… FIGHT FOR THE LIVING !

Use your Vote on May 7th

Britain goes to the polls in the General Election on Thursday May 7th, and Eastbourne will be a hard fought contest as always.

The Trades Council is non-party political, and like the TUC does not endorse any particular party or candidates. But we will campaign on the issues that matter to our members throughout the campaign, and lobby all candidates to support jobs and services in Eastbourne, a decent living wage for all, and, of course the return of all core services to our DGH !

Many, but not all, of our affiliated unions have dedicated political funds that allow them to campaign for particular candidates or parties. Others are independent but use their political fund to endorse particular candidates; others just to campaign against racist or fascist candidates.

As we have done in previous local elections, the trades council has asked all of the main parties to tell us of any local candidates who are, or were trade unionists. By way of factual information...:-

Labour Party:  Dave Brinson (Devonshire Ward- NUT, local secretary), Gerry Stonestreet (Devonshire Ward- Unite the Union, retired.)  Doug Skelley (Hampden Park- GMB steward). Lee Comfort (Langney Ward, Unite the Union) Roy Noble (Langney Ward, Unite) Dennis Scard (Meads Ward- Unite the Union and the Musicians' Union), Lucette Davies (Meads Ward, NUJ)  Jean Couture (Old Town Ward, NUT retired), Paul Richards (Old Town Ward, Unite the Union and NUJ), Sharon Wentworth (Old Town Ward- Unite the Union). John Lambert (Ratton Ward, UCU), John Joe Wentworth (Ratton Ward, Unite the Union), Jackie Ferguson (St Anthony's Ward, NUT retired) Simon Millar (Upperton Ward, Unite the Union)

Liberal Democrats:  Troy Tester (Pharmacists Defence Association Union, Langney Ward, John Ungar (Old Town Ward, Unison) David Tutt (Unite/CMA [retd.]; St Anthony's Ward) Gill Mattock (UCU, St Anthony's Ward,) 

Green Party: Rob Clarke (Old Town Ward, Unite the Union steward) 

Independent: Dave Poole (Hampden Park Ward, Unite the Union) 

We have not yet had a reply from the Conservatives or UKIP- we will update the page as soon as we do.  

No World Cup without Workers' Rights !

Anyone who will be in London on Tuesday 28th April may want to support this event for Workers' Memorial Day:
International Workers Memorial Day: Tuesday 28 April

10.30am – Building Worker Statue – Tower Hill EC3 (Tower Hill tube)

12.30pm – Qatari Embassy, 1 South Audley Street W1K 1NB  (Green Park tube)

No World Cup Without Workers Rights

It has been estimated that by the time the 2022 World Cup in Qatar kicks off, 4000 workers could die in the virtual slave labour system in which migrant workers in particular are denied basic rights. We demand that unless this slaughter is stopped the vote on the host country must be rerun.

Speakers:  Gail Cartmail – UNITE the Union; Steve Murphy – UCATT; Construction Safety campaign; London Hazards Centre; Relatives of workers killed at work

Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living

Better Red Tape Than Red Bandages