Stop Cuts to Services for SEN and Disabled Kids!

GMB calls for a campaign against proposed cuts by East Sussex County Council to services to children with severe disabilities and special educational needs. The proposals must be stopped, East Sussex County Council need to act now to save the service and ensure invaluable hardworking staff are retained says GMB Southern.

GMB, the union for workers in East Sussex County Council, are calling for a halt to proposed cuts to children’s services including those with disabilities and special educational needs within East Sussex.

East Sussex County Council are proposing to cut the number of after school and weekend clubs for children with disabilities, special educational needs and behavioural issues. The cuts will mean a further reduction in support available for these children and their families. Proposed cuts of £70-£90m by March 2019 are being looked at in several areas including community care, drop-in activity at children’s centres, services for carers and children with special educational needs.

Karen Cooke, GMB organiser said “If these cuts are implemented it could result in parents and carers being unable to cope and more children going into full time care. This is not only devastating for these children and their families but will cost the public thousands of pounds. This will clearly have a major detrimental effect on them. They have already faced a cut to respite care as the two available facilities which were used are now at capacity with full time residents.

Clearly staff will also be affected as redundancies are anticipated at the end of the current 40 day consultation. GMB are calling for a halt to these proposals with immediate effect. What beggars belief is the parents and children that will be directly affected are not even being consulted with. The proposals must be stopped, ESCC need to act now to save the service and ensure invaluable hardworking staff are retained.”

More information from GMB at https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/gmb-to-campaign-against-cuts-to-disabled-childrens-services-in-east-sussex/

Solidarity with ASLEF and RMT

Eastbourne Trade Unionists have stood foursquare behind our colleagues in the RMT and now ASLEF in defending proper services on our local railway.  The campaign to keep a safety-qualified guard on EVERY train is not about money or a reluctance to "modernise", it is about high quality and safe travel, it is about ensuring the safety of all passengers, especially disabled and vulnerable passengers.

Many Eastbourne people have shown their support on the picket lines at Eastbourne Station in recent weeks (as well as objecting to Southern's latest plans to close Eastbourne Ticket Office!)

Today, ASLEF took place in much publicised talks at the conciliation service ACAS. In an extraordinary move, however, the employer refused to admit the RMT into the talks. How can anyone suggest that Southern/GTR are serious about ending the dispute?

RMT General Secretary, Mick Cash said:
“Southern Rail were fully aware last night that I would be attending the talks this morning at ACAS alongside our ASLEF colleagues.

“This morning, on arrival for the talks, I was told that I would not allowed to take part by representatives from the company.

“RMT is furious at the complete contempt that has been shown to us by Southern Rail this morning which leaves us in a state of limbo when we should all be around the table thrashing out the issues that have led to the current action.

“Our members were expecting discussions to take place today and instead we have had the door slammed in our faces. That is no way to rebuild the confidence of the workforce in the Southern management and the talks process and it is no way to reach a solution which is what the public are crying out for.

“I will now be reporting back to RMT’s executive on these developments.”

Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 15th November

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 15th November, 7.30pm at the View Hotel (formerly known as the Unite/T&G Eastbourne Centre), Grand Parade, Eastbourne. 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 any new affiliations.

3.     Minutes of previous meeting (September) and matters arising. 

4.     Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer

5.     RECLAIM MAY DAY to agree planning and funding application for 2017

6.     Ongoing Union Campaigns: to include RMT action, Post Office Closure, GMB Patient Transport and others from local affiliates.

7.     Other community campaigns, including Eastbourne Pride/Mardi Gras

8.     Any other business

The bar will be open afterwards !