Next Trades Council Meeting, Tuesday 12th July

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 12th July at 7.30pm, at The Railway Club, Hampden Park. All local trade unionists are invited. 

 A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence and approval of any new affiliations. 

2. Minutes of previous meeting (January 2022)  and matters arising. 

 3. Treasurer's Report 

 4. Campaigning reports from affiliated Unions 

 (a) Wealden Bin Strikes and ongoing legal action 

 (b) UCU dispute 

 (c) Equity Jekyll's issue in Hastings 

 (d) CWU action in BT 

 (e) Any other campaign reports from affiliates 

 5. Other Campaigning Reports 

 (a) Climate Campaign including motion from Carol Mills 

 (b) "Join the Union" Stall proposal 

 (c) Paul Robeson commemoration update 

 6. Any other business

Victory for GMB in Eastbourne Bin Dispute

The Eastbourne bin strike has ended today in a ‘massive win for GMB members’. Refuse collectors in the town had already taken six days of strike action including today and were set for eight more walk outs in the coming weeks. But GMB members this morning formally accepted an improved, above inflation pay offer of almost 19 per cent from the council. 

The offer includes a minimum rise this year of 11 per cent and a guarantee their hourly rate will reach a minimum of £13.50 per hour in April 2023 – a 19 per cent rise in total.   In October, GMB refuse collectors in nearby Brighton won an above inflation pay rise after long-running strike action. 

In addition, there will be steps to replace to improve the old and outdated welfare facilities at the depot, including new shower and rest facilities. 

Gary Palmer, GMB Organiser, said: “GMB members have flexed their industrial muscle and got the above inflation pay rise they deserve. "The people of Eastbourne have backed them all the way – despite the inconvenience they've had to face. "Other employers should take note, GMB members know their own worth and are not scared to take bosses on."

The GMB members were joined on the picket line this morning by Lloyd Russell-Moyle the Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown (pictured) 

Next Trades Council Meeting: 18th January- SOLIDARITY with the Eastbourne Bin Strikers

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.00pm, on Tuesday 18th January 2022, via Zoom.  All Eastbourne trade unionists are welcome to attend. 

Please register in advance by clicking here

The main item of business for the meeting will be hearing from the GMB about progress in the bin strike.  It is really important that we get the workers' case across, and other local union reps are in a great position to spread the truth in their workplaces and communities.  Please come along at least for this part of the meeting, even if you can't stay for later items. 

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence and approval of any new affiliations.

2. EASTBOURNE BIN STRIKE:  Update from GMB Union representatives, how do we build solidarity, and what are the next steps for challenging low pay, poor conditions and bullying management in Eastbourne? 

3. Minutes of previous meeting (September 2021) and matters arising.

5. Treasurer's Report

6. Campaigning reports from affiliated Unions and other campaigning organisations.

7. Len Caine Award 2022

8. Any Other Business

Solidarity with Eastbourne Bin Staff

Trades Unionists in Eastbourne are standing firm in solidarity with GMB members employed by Eastbourne Borough Council (through an "arms length company owned by the council)  who are striking against poverty pay and appalling work conditions.

HGV drivers are on wages well below the industry standard, whilst other collection staff are on poverty pay, and pounds an hour below staff doing the same job in Lewes- employed by the same managers in the same council-owned "arms length" company.

After three days of strike action, the Lib Dem controlled Eastbourne Borough Council has resorted to issuing misleading statements and using their councillors to push anti-union lines to try and belittle the strikers' case, demonise the union, and turn the people of Eastbourne against their low paid workers.

Disgracefully, we have seen so-called "progressive" local councillors like former People's Assembly supporter Lib Dem Helen Burton now issuing Thatcher-like anti union statements, whilst Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Josh Babarinde issues weasel words about having met with "the workers" whilst then attacking the union officials.  Oldest union-bashing trick in the book! 

The elected councillors can't shift the blame to the "officers" or the "negotiators".  They need to show some leadership and direct the council managers-  managers directly accountable to the elected officials to negotiate seriously and in good faith. 

Today, the GMB announced that they would press on with 11 days of further strike action. 

"Ending walk-outs and stopping rubbish pile up was within the grasp of the council if they showed real willingness to meet," says GMB Union 

"Eastbourne refuse collectors will go ahead with a further 11 days of industrial action after the council refused to meet with GMB Union. The union says a face-to-face negotiation is vital to talks as the lead representative, Mark Turner, is visually impaired and struggles to use Zoom and similar online platforms."

Eastbourne Borough Council has so far ignored requests for a meeting on 12 January and a request for a meeting on 13 January has also thus far been left unanswered. Mark Turner, GMB B50 Branch Secretary said:

'The council’s only focus appears at this time is to try to break the strike and blames GMB for the inconvenience to the residents of Eastbourne. We hoped they might take responsibility for this mess - given they’ve moved the service back towards being in-house through an arms-length company. Since then they have done nothing to improve the poverty pay rates or welfare, health and safety of their workers. 

My visual impairment means that online meetings can be difficult for me and in person conferences allow me to be properly involved in the discussions - especially when they are so important.  Unfortunately this simple request appears to be beyond the council, so we have to waste our time chasing them to meet rather than resolving the dispute and bringing the strike to a conclusion. 

Ending walk-outs and avoiding rubbish piling up in the city’s streets was within the grasp of the council if they only showed a real willingness to get back around the negotiating table.'"

STOP "FIRE AND REHIRE"- support Barry Gardiner's Private Members' Bill

Thousands of British workers are threatened with being fired and rehired on worse pay and conditions to do the same job. It’s not dodgy backstreet companies doing this, it’s the biggest names on our high street. Will you and your colleagues be next?

Tesco and Sainsbury’s are both at it. From your morning Weetabix and coffee to your holiday snack at the airport, fire and rehire is everywhere.  Many household names have made billions during lockdown, but greedy bosses want even more and it’s the workers who have to pay. British Gas, Clarks Shoes and Heathrow Airport are just some of businesses forcing families into poverty with no regard for loyalty or years of service.

Over the years cost cutting employers have copied money-grabbing bosses in other industries. Many unions across Britain are asking will their members be next. Even teachers are being fired and rehired in schools, no one seems safe.

Labour MP Barry Gardiner has introduced a Private Member’s Bill to outlaw this practice. It’s wrong that workers who have given their lives to companies now can’t pay their rent, go on holiday or sleep because of worry. This is the human cost of telling a worker, your pay is cut by 25%, you’ll work longer hours and your pension is under threat. Fire and rehire is everywhere.

Workers are being bullied, sacked and told they will only be re-employed to do the same basic job if they accept less money and poorer conditions. It’s an issue that affects every constituency, every industry – a social evil that is afflicting hundreds of thousands of families. As if the pandemic was not bad enough, companies are now threatening people with the sack so they can pay them less or take their pensions.

At food giant Jacob Douwe Egberts in Banbury, coffee consumption was up 40 per cent during the lockdown and JDE made record profits, but that didn’t stop them threatening their workforce with the sack unless they accepted a cut in wages of up to £12,000.

No family should have to put up with that. How do you pay your rent or your mortgage with a cut like that? How can you support your family? Every pound cut is a pound less to pay your rent, to pay your mortgage and the fear of eviction or repossession is very real.

It’s just plain wrong and the Government SAYS it agree
s. Leading Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg told MP’s fire and rehire was “bad practise” and no respectable employer would do it. Even the Prime Minister says it’s unacceptable. But it remains to be seen whether Boris will support our campaign to outlaw this evil practise.

Tory Business Minister, Paul Scully, promises he will “issue guidelines” but many unions believe those guidelines won’t protect anyone.

Right wingers may say bosses should be left to do as they please in a free market, but the proposed Bill will not stop struggling firms restructuring or changing outdated practises. Instead, it will stop bad bosses sacking workers to avoid redundancy rules and other workers’ rights.

So come on let’s support the Bill and visit the campaign website at www.StopFireAndRehire.org follow it on Instagram and Facebook and tell your friends about fire and rehire.  

Why Fuller Must Fall

The toppling of Edward Coulston's statue in Bristol was a visual reminder of the ongoing campaign to tell the real story of Britain's slave trading history, and to tell the truth about those figures who grew rich and influential  (and their descendents to this day)  on the profits of this vile trade. 

Many local people may not know of the role played by our own local slave master...

We're not calling for the follies and monuments to be pulled down, incidentally, but for the real story behind these visible and living pieces of history to be told. 

Eastbourne Trades Council has added its name to this statement from Sussex Stand Up To Racism: 

"John ‘Mad Jack’ Fuller (1757-1834) was the wealthy Squire of Brightling near Battle in East Sussex and Tory MP for Sussex from 1801 to 1812. Fuller still currently enjoys a reputation as an eccentric and philanthropist, and his nickname of ‘Mad Jack’ originates because of a number of follies he constructed around his estate, the most famous being a large pyramid shaped mausoleum which dominates Brightling’s churchyard. (Photo 127559593 © David Dennis | Dreamstime.com) 

 Less well recognised and appreciated about Fuller is that he was a slaveowner and in many ways ‘East Sussex’s Edward Colston’ as a large section of his wealth (and that of the wider Fuller family) came from the profiteering from the barbaric exploitation of forced labour on two plantations in colonial Jamaica, the Knollis estate in St Thomas-in-the-Vale [now St Catherine] and Grange Pen in St Catherine (more information here)

A vociferous anti-abolitionist he used his position as a Tory MP to try and prevent the end of slavery. Fuller belonged to the West India Interest, a powerful lobby group that financed racist pseudo-science to show that enslaved Africans were degenerate and sub-human. When he died in 1834, he left an estate of £160 000 (£20 million in today's terms) which included about 270 enslaved people (more information here) 

While some institutions like the Church of England, National Trust and the Royal Institution have begun to distance themselves from Fuller when informed of his role in colonial slavery, with for example the Royal Institution recently ending their Fullerian Professorship scheme, there are still other institutions and organisations that continue to retain their links to this slaveowner. 

We therefore call upon all such institutions and organisations to fully and unequivocally accept that any scientific, cultural and social advances attributed to Fuller result from money gained from the exploitation of thousands of enslaved Africans, and publicly end their association with Fuller. "

Trades Council AGM Tuesday 11th May

The Annual General Meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be held on Tuesday 11^th May, at 7.30pm via Zoom. Please register here

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the last AGM from 2019 (2020 was cancelled due to Covid)

3. Adoption of Rules for 2021 (proposal is same as for 2019) and new affiliates.

4. Officers' Reports and Accounts

5. Election of Officers for 2021-2 (following a resolution of the 2018 AGM, nominations for officer positions must be received before the meeting, and will be circulated on Monday 10^th May)

a) Chair
b) Vice Chair
c) Secretary
d) Assistant Secretary
e) Treasurer
f) Additional non-officer members of the Executive Committee, if required

6. External Affiliations for 2021  (Last year:  East Sussex CATC, National Pensioners' Convention, Cuba Solidarity Campaign,  Stand up To Racism)

7. Guest Speaker- TBC striking teacher from Peacehaven Heights invited

8.. Dates of meetings for 2020-1

9. Presentation of the Len Caine Award to Julie Hart

If you would like to stand for election as an officer, pplease let the Secretary know by Monday. 

Today is Workers' Memorial Day

April 28^th is marked by trade unionists and others around the world as International Workers’ Memorial Day- dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives whilst carrying out their job; and campaigning to ensure safer workplaces and an end to deaths at work.

Never has it been more vital to remember and honour those who have fallen in the course of simply doing their job than this year- when so many front-line and other working people have fallen victim to Covid-19-  like MICHAEL WINCHESTER-  housekeeping supervisor at the DGH, taken at just 51 years old.

NHS and social care services, education, retail, fire and policing services- in fact every sector of our economy, every industry, every community has had to mourn those taken too soon by this dreadful virus. 

Trade Unionists in Eastbourne will be raising awareness of this day, and asking local people to remember all those who have died in the pursuance of their job- whether those who fell to Covid-19, or in other workplace accidents or related illnesses- such as 

• JACK PHILLIPS-  workman, 24, killed after being struck by a heavy object falling from Eastbourne's South Cliff Tower in 2019.
• STEPHEN PENRICE - Maintenance worker, killed in a fall whilst working on repairs to Eastbourne Pier in 2014;
• ROY TRUNDELL- Eastbourne Buses employee- killed in a workplace accident in 2008;
• DANIEL HAFFENDEN – Self-employed tyre fitter, killed whilst working on a tourist coach when a jack collapsed, in 2012
• CLIVE BECK - former Ratton School teacher- died of Mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos at the school;
• BOB TOLLY - Eastbourne gas fitter- died 2006, also of Mesothelioma. Exposed to asbestos during his working life.
• GEOFF WICKER and BRIAN WEMBRIDGE East Sussex firefighters killed in action fighting a blaze at a firework factory near Lewes in 2006. (Their families had to wait for almost 10 years of court wrangling to receive justice

We are respectfully asking if local workplaces, churches and places of worship would be willing to spare a moment of their thoughts and prayers on 28^th April or near to that, to remember all those, both locally, nationally and worldwide, who have lost their lives at work.

Demonstrate to "Kill the Bill": May Day

Although we are unable to hold our full traditional May Day parade and picnic to celebrate International Workers' Day, the Trades Council is proudly supporting a socially-distanced demonstration against the dreadful Police, Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill.

The Bill, the first attempt to amend the Public Order legislation for nearly 18 year, will severely curtail civil liberties around the right to peacefully demonstrate, to protest and to picket.  There is a detailed explanation as to why the Bill should be opposed from the Good Law Project here. 

Join us on May 1st at 1.00pm

We will gather at Hyde Gardens at 1p.m. and march to the Wish Tower slopes for a rally where we are hoping to have a range of speakers and performers. Those attending should wear face masks and adhere to social distancing - keeping a 2m distance, in line with current COVID-19 guidelines. Let’s stand together and defend our right to protest. Bring your banners and whistles, family and friends and let’s make some noise!

Remember Workers Memorial Day

April 28^th is marked by trade unionists and others around the world as International Workers’ Memorial Day- dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives whilst carrying out their job; and campaigning to ensure safer workplaces and an end to deaths at work.

Never has it been more vital to remember and honour those who have fallen in the course of simply doing their job than this year- when so many front-line and other working people have fallen victim to Covid-19-  like MICHAEL WINCHESTER-  housekeeping supervisor at the DGH, taken at just 51 years old.

NHS and social care services, education, retail, fire and policing services- in fact every sector of our economy, every industry, every community has had to mourn those taken too soon by this dreadful virus. 

Trade Unionists in Eastbourne will be raising awareness of this day, and asking local people to remember all those who have died in the pursuance of their job- whether those who fell to Covid-19, or in other workplace accidents or related illnesses- such as 

• JACK PHILLIPS-  workman, 24, killed after being struck by a heavy object falling from Eastbourne's South Cliff Tower in 2019.
• STEPHEN PENRICE - Maintenance worker, killed in a fall whilst working on repairs to Eastbourne Pier in 2014;
• ROY TRUNDELL- Eastbourne Buses employee- killed in a workplace accident in 2008;
• DANIEL HAFFENDEN – Self-employed tyre fitter, killed whilst working on a tourist coach when a jack collapsed, in 2012
• CLIVE BECK - former Ratton School teacher- died of Mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos at the school;
• BOB TOLLY - Eastbourne gas fitter- died 2006, also of Mesothelioma. Exposed to asbestos during his working life.
• GEOFF WICKER and BRIAN WEMBRIDGE East Sussex firefighters killed in action fighting a blaze at a firework factory near Lewes in 2006. (Their families had to wait for almost 10 years of court wrangling to receive justice

We are respectfully asking if local workplaces, churches and places of worship would be willing to spare a moment of their thoughts and prayers on 28^th April or near to that, to remember all those, both locally, nationally and worldwide, who have lost their lives at work.

Next Trades Council Meeting: 30th March

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, on Tuesday 30th March 2021, via Zoom.  All Eastbourne trade unionists are welcome to attend. 

Please click here to register.

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Approval of any new affiliations.

3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising.

4. Treasurer's Report

5. Campaign Updates from local Union branches

6. Other Campaigning activity:

     (a)  Stand Up to Racism- conference and banner display and future work.

     (b)  Workers' Memorial Day arrangements 28th April

     (c)  Trade Union presence at Eastbourne Pride

     (c)  Summer campaigning, post-lockdown?

7. AGM arrangements and nominations for the Len Caine Memorial Prize

8. Any other business

Proud to Support UN Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day

Eastbourne Trades Council are proud to have supported the United Nations  Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day on Saturday.

Carol and Louise from the Sussex Unite Community branch proudly led the socially-distanced banner display on Eastbourne beach-   our banner was there alongside affiliates PCS and Unite, and other campaigning organisations such as Eastbourne People's Assembly. 

The Trades Council is proud to be supporting the Eastbourne Branch of Stand Up to Racism, and looks forward to continuing to promote its campaigns.

Say NO to Fire Service Cuts: Sign the petition!

East Sussex Fire Authority are consulting with the public on plans that will decimate local Fire & Rescue Services in East Sussex.

Planned cuts include:

• Remove 10 fire engines from towns and villages across the county. Affected stations are Bexhill, Battle, Crowborough, Lewes, Newhaven, Rye, Uckfield, Seaford, Heathfield and Wadhurst.
• Cut dedicated crews for aerial appliances in Hastings.
• Cut wholetime jobs at Lewes, Newhaven, Uckfield, Crowborough, Battle and Bexhill.
• Downgrade The Ridge fire station from 24hr immediate response to only daytime immediate response.
• Cut staffing levels of wholetime firefighters at all shift stations across the county.

These will impact heavily on a critical lifesaving service. They will negatively impact public safety as well as firefighter safety and will also impede firefighter's ability to respond quickly to emergency calls. 

The FBU point out that these plans were drawn up before the Covid-19 crisis, and do not take into account the different situation we will face when lockdown is finally over.   Firefighters locally and nationally have taken on significant extra duties as part of supporting communities during the crisis. 

Ten years of austerity cuts saw 11,500 firefighter jobs lost nationally.  The service is already overstretched!

Eastbourne is represented on the East Sussex Fire Authority by Meads Tory councillor Barry Taylor, and Lib Dem Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, David Tutt.  Shamefully both voted for the cuts package. 

Please sign the petition here, download and print the FBU's information leaflet by clicking here,   and spread the word: Fire Cuts Cost Lives!

Covid-19 Scandal at Cavendish School

The NEU and GMB were very concerned to discover that there has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 at the Cavendish Hub where a staff member tested positive last weekend (9-10th May). The Cavendish School  Hub has had children in from Cavendish School, Stafford and Roselands ESCC schools as well as smaller numbers from other Eastbourne schools. 

East Sussex NEU Branch said:

"Thankfully we understand the member of staff is not seriously ill but the potential infection that may have taken place given the size of the hub represents a serious and imminent threat to heath.

We are particularly concerned as despite this being known by some of the senior leadership on Monday 11th May all staff and parents were not made aware until late Friday 15th May. This was only disclosed at all after the unions were informed of the case on Friday 15th May and contacted management to say we would tell staff and parents if they did not.

Allowing staff and children to attend the hub for a whole week without informing them, shutting, allowing testing to take place, and doing a full school deep clean is unacceptable. There has clearly been a series of failures here and as advice was sought by leadership from East Sussex County Council and Public health England it raises serious questions about the quality of that advice.

The NEU has met virtually with its members across Stafford, Roselands and Cavendish to give advice and discuss the situation. It is clear that there are extremely serious questions to be answered: 

• Why were all staff and parents not told of a confirmed case and what advice was given to the leadership? 
• Given the unions had already been raising concerns with ESCC that the hub was too big how will the council and school leadership respond to having potentially having Covid-19 present in a building which had up to 100 people present in it? 
• How quickly can tests be provided for all those who have been on site and families? Why was such a large hub allowed to open and what assessments of the risk were done? 
• How is a school wide deep clean on Monday 18th be sufficient response to a case identified on Monday 11th when people have been in the building all week potentially spreading the virus?
• How can a reopening of the hub on Tuesday be justified? 

Indeed, how can there be faith from school staff and parents that any East Sussex schools can open more widely from 1st June when even with limited opening an outbreak in a school has been handled so badly?   The National Education Union will be continuing to advise its members directly and will be looking for an urgent meeting with East Sussex County Council and school leaders."

You can also read the press statement from the GMB by clicking here.

POSTPONED: Trades Council AGM

The 2020 AGM of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be rescheduled when further information about prevention and management of the Corvid-19 virus is known.

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the AGM from 2019

3. Adoption of Rules for 2020 (proposal is same as for 2019) and new affiliates.

4. Officers' Reports and Accounts

5. Election of Officers for 2020-1 (following a resolution of the 2018 AGM, nominations for officer positions must be received before the meeting. Deadline will be 15th March)

a) Chair
b) Vice Chair
c) Secretary
d) Assistant Secretary
e) Treasurer
f) Additional non-officer members of the Executive Committee, if required

6. External Affiliations for 2020  (Last year:  East Sussex CATC, National Pensioners' Convention, Cuba Solidarity Campaign.)

7. Guest Speaker: LAURIE HESALDINE, London and South East Region of the TUC. 

8.MAY DAY PARADE, WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY and EASTBOURNE PRIDE: to briefly update preparation for these events and agree any arrangements and funding.

9. Trades Councils Conference 2020

10. Dates of meetings for 2020-1

10. Presentation of the Len Caine Award to Bill Ball

PROTEST for our Local NHS: Saturday 29th February

The East Sussex Save the NHS Campaign has called for a demonstration against proposals by the CCG to close the NHS Walk-in centre at Eastbourne Railway Station. 

The campaign told the Eastbourne Herald:

“We believe this potential closure is part of a wider picture of NHS policy decisions that are robbing our population of the healthcare services they have paid for and need.” 

“Our town has already lost some of its core services from the hospital, many of us have experienced a whole raft of problems when accessing NHS services and soon we will start to see even more changes in primary care.” 

“You [the people of Eastbourne] have shown how passionate you are about keeping the walk-in centre so please keep signing our petition but do also engage with the CCG’s public consultation. You really need to make sure you tell the CCG exactly what you have been telling us!” 

TAKE ACTION!   Join the protest-  ASSEMBLE outside Eastbourne Railway Station at 1.00pm on Saturday 29th February. 

SIGN the online petition here!   

TELL THE CCG- take part in the online consultation by clicking here. 

SEE THE FILM- the campaign are showing "The Great NHS Heist" a powerful documentary by prominent NHS campaigner, film producer and working GP, Dr Bob Gill at St Elisabeth's Church on Friday 28th February at 6.30pm. Click here for more information.

Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 14th January

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, on Tuesday 14th January 2020, at the View Hotel (formerly T&G/Unite Centre) , Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists (including retired trade unionists) are invited. 

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Approval of any new affiliations.

3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising.

4. Treasurer's Report

5. UNION CAMPAIGNS:  especially in light of the General Election result and implications from the current Queen's Speech. All attendees are encouraged to bring information about their union's current campaigning activity.

6. Other Events:  Cuba film showing, and early preparation for May Day, Workers' Memorial Day and other events in 2020.

7. Any other business

Next Trades Council Meeting 26th November. Priorities for the Election?

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, on Tuesday 26th November 2019, at the View Hotel (formerly T&G/Unite Centre) , Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists (including retired trade unionists) are invited. 

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Approval of any new affiliations.

3. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising.

4. Treasurer's Report

5. TUC PRIORITIES AND THE GENERAL ELECTION 
The Trades Council is not allowed to support or endorse a specific candidate or party in the election (although some of our individual affiliated Unions can and will.)  We are able to highlight which of our specific campaigns can be lobbied for amongst Eastbourne candidates and any responses we have received. You are encouraged to bring any materials from your union that may inform this item.

6. Other Campaigning Updates

7. Any other business

MARCH WITH US ON MAY DAY!

Join trade unionists and other campaigners for our annual May Day celebration of trade unionism and working class organisation.

Leave from Hyde Gardens at 11.00am, with your flags and banners, and march to the Wish Tower Slopes for a short rally and a picnic.   Speakers from Unite, NEU, Eastbourne Pride, NHS Campaigns and others.

All welcome!

Workers Memorial Day 2019

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 decided their safety just wasn't that important a priority. 

Workers’ Memorial Day (WMD) commemorates those workers. Workers' Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day. the day.

Workers' Memorial Day has always been to "remember the dead: fight for the living" and unions are asked to focus on both areas, by considering events or memorial to remember all those killed through work but at the same time ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated. That can best be done by building trade union organisation, and campaigning for stricter enforcement with higher penalties for breaches of health & safety laws.

Workers Memorial Day is commemorated throughout the world and is officially recognised by the UK Government.


The theme for 2019 Theme for the day is: “dangerous substances – get them out of the workplace”. The focus will mainly be on carcinogens but you can adapt the theme to whatever is most relevant in your workplace or area, as many substances can also cause illnesses such as asthma or dermatitis.

Two important issues are of course asbestos and diesel exhaust, and the TUC has useful guides on both of them, but other ideas may be cleaning fluids or dust in general - Asbestos - time to get rid of it (pdf), Diesel exhaust in the workplace (pdf), Occupational cancer (pdf)

As always, Eastbourne Trades Council will be leafleting the Town Centre on the day, and also writing to all of the places of worship in Eastbourne, asking them to commemorate the day.

Find out more at the TUC National Website by clicking here.