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

Free Film Showing for LGBT History Month

Eastbourne Trades Council is proud to mark LGBT History Month 2020 with a free showing of this important piece of Cuban LGBT history, 25 years after it became the first Cuban film to be nominated for an Oscar. We are also proud to be the first film showing in the newly re-opened Grove Theatre. 

“Diego, a cultivated, sceptical young gay man, falls in love with a young communist full of prejudices and doctrinal ideas. First comes rejection and suspicion, but also fascination. Fresa y Chocolate is a coming-of-age story, told through the development of a great friendship, which overcomes incomprehension and intolerance.”

Released in 1993 this was the first major film from Cuba to address themes of homosexuality- and in 1995 became the first Cuban film to receive widespread release in the USA since the Revolution.

The showing will be on Tuesday 25th February 2020. The film will commence at 8.00pm and runs for approximately 100 minutes. 

The Grove Theatre bar will be open from 7pm, and during and after the film showing. Certificate 18 for “brief strong sexuality” and strong language. Nobody under the age of 18 may be admitted. In Spanish with English subtitles,

Eastbourne Trades Council supports the Cuba Solidarity Campaign as our international affiliation.  You can find out more about their work here.

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

Trades Council AGM 2019: Tuesday 19th March

The 2019 AGM of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, Tuesday 19th March, at the View Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists (including retired trade unionists) are invited, although only delegates from affiliated unions may stand as officers or vote.

A G E N D A 

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the AGM from 2018

3. Adoption of Rules for 2019 (proposal is same as for 2018) and new affiliates.

4. Officers' Reports and Accounts

5. Election of Officers for 2018 (following a resolution of the 2018 AGM, nominations for officer positions must be received before the meeting. Deadline will be 12th 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. Affiliations for 2019

7. Guest Speaker: TOMMY ANDERSON, London and South East Representative on the TUC/Trades Council's Joint Committee. 

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

9. Dates of meetings for 2018-9

10. Presentation of the Len Caine Award to Jane Humberstone

Marching with Pride

Eastbourne Trades Council were proud to be represented at the Eastbourne Pride march and festival this summer.  A number of union banners took part in the parade, and we had a stall at the park, where information about the work of the trade union movement supporting LGBT+ workers was available.  Thanks to members of NEU, Unite, UCU, GMB and Unison for their help with the stall.

Pride will happen in Eastbourne next year- lets make sure EVERY union with members in Eastbourne is represented on the march!

Next Trades Council Meeting: 3rd July

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, Tuesday 3rd July, 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 (May) and matters arising.

4. Treasurer's Report

5. Anti-Cuts Campaigns: Updates on the various campaigns including the Unison campaigns at ESCC and NHS, the campaign to save the Music Service, the East Sussex Save the NHS Campaigning, and the demonstration against cuts to SEN Children's Services.

6. Other live union disputes and campaigns:
(a) GMB Dispute at Eastbourne DGH
(b) Teachers' Pay Dispute
(c) RMT safety dispute at Southern
(d) Retail Update

7. Events:
(a) Eastbourne Pride: To agree arrangements for the stall on the day, and to encourage trade unionists to march.
(b) Modern Slavery campaign- possible link with the Co-op Party campaigning
(c) "Will and Testament"- proposed Eastbourne showing of the Tony Benn film by local Labour Party
(d) Engels Plaque update

8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS

March with us on May Day!

Commemorate May Day (a bit late, but using the May Day holiday!) with workers around the world. March with our trade union banners through Eastbourne Town Centre and up to the Wish Tower Slopes for speakers and a picnic.
 
Following last year's success, let's make this year even bigger! Assemble on the grass outside the NUT office on Hyde Gardens for an 11.00am start, If your union branch has a banner (or flags etc. but please no balloons) bring it along!

Speakers will include Eastbourne People's Assembly, East Sussex Save the NHS, Bourne Out LGBT and a striker from the current teachers' dispute.

Trades Council AGM: 27th March 2018

The AGM of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, Tuesday 27th March, at the View Hotel, Grand Parade, Eastbourne. All local trade unionists (including retired trade unionists) are invited, although only delegates from affiliated unions may stand as officers or vote on financial or policy matters.

A G E N D A

1. Introductions and apologies for absence

2. Minutes of the AGM from 2017

3. Adoption of Rules for 2018 (proposal is same as for 2017) and new affiliates.

4. Officers' Reports and Accounts

5. Election of Officers for 2018

a) Chair

b) Vice Chair

c) Secretary

d) Assistant Secretary

e) Treasurer

f) Additional non-officer members of the Executive Committee, if required

5. MAY DAY PARADE and WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY: to update preparation for these events and agree any arrangements. 

6. NHS Campaigning: update on the launch of the East Sussex Save our NHS Campaign

7.  Eastbourne Pride: To update on arrangements and to agree any financial commitments. 

8. Updates from other Union campaigns.

9. Dates  of meetings for 2018-9

10. Presentation of the Len Caine Award

Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 16th January

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, Tuesday 16th January, 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 (November) and matters arising

4. Treasurer's Report

 5. CAMPAIGNS:

            (a) CWU Royal Mail dispute

            (b) RMT Southern Rail dispute

            (c) Teachers' Pay dispute with East Sussex County Council

            (d) Other Union Campaigns

 6. EVENTS:

(a)   MAY DAY:  To confirm dates and provisional arrangements for the May Day march 2018. 

(b)   PRIDE:  To agree any financial commitments for Pride 2018, and how to encourage more trade union participation in the parade.

(c)   TOLPUDDLE: To update on possible transport to the Tolpuddle Martyrs Rally

(d)  WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY

7. NEWSLETTER:  To approve content and budget for the newsletter which will be sent out prior to the AGM to act as our “annual report”

8.   AGM- to confirm details of speakers, and nominee for the Len Caine Award

Next Trades Council Meeting- Tuesday 14th November

The next meeting of the Eastbourne Trades Council will be at 7.30pm, Tuesday 14th November, 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 (October) and matters arising

4. Treasurer's Report

 5. CAMPAIGNS:

            (a) CWU Royal Mail dispute

            (b) RMT Southern Rail dispute

            (c) USDAW Respect for Shopworkers Campaign

            (d) Other Union Campaigns

 6. EVENTS:

Bill Ball from Lewes Trades Council will speak about possible joint work, including possible coach to Tolpuddle 2018, plus any early planning needed for May Day, WMD, Prides etc.

7. Any other business

The bar will be open afterwards!

Come and See us at Eastbourne Pride!

We will be proudly supporting Eastbourne Pride/Mardi Gras tomorrow- come and visit our stall at Princes Park.

Pride, and the LGBT+ campaigns led by trade unions and others are just as needed now as they ever were- see the TUC's "The Cost of being Out at Work" here.

Back and Marching on May Day!

After nearly 30 years, we brought back the May Day union parade today- marching through Eastbourne to a rally at the Wish Tower slopes. Our banner proudly joined by NUT, RMT, Unite and Musicians' Union, plus East Sussex Co-operative Party and Workers' Memorial Day.

Setting off from NUT HQ

Dave Brinson, Trades Council and NUT Secretary compered the proceedings, noting that it was nearly 30 years since we'd had a May Day march in Eastbourne.  Paul Howard of Eastbourne People's Assembly (also an NUT member) spoke about the campaign against Austerity, and linked up the effects of this on a range of services.

Len Caine at the centre of our banner

Lucette Davies, a journalist and NUJ member  spoke about the newly formed East Sussex Save the NHS campaign, and how the STP plans are the latest attempt by the Government to run down NHS services to soften them up for full-on privatisation. She urged trade unionists to support the local campaigns.  There was a shout out for the Save the DGH campaign too- with stalwart committee members Jake Lambert and Lee Comfort in the crowd.

Line up at the Lawns!

Keith Mitchell of East Sussex Coastway RMT talked about the ongoing struggle from his members against Driver Only Operation and the removal of a safety critical member of on-board staff.  He contrasted the two days of training for the new, cheaper On Board Supervisors, compared with the months of training and then year of probation for the properly trained and licensed conductors.  He also raised the scandal of disabled passengers potentially having to request assistance 24 hours in advance if they want to travel from unmanned stations- scandalous and potentially illegal under Equality Act 2010.

Finally, Betty Gallacher, veteran Unite activist and Chair of Bourne Out LGBT spoke about her years of campaigning for equality work as the first female union secretary on London Transport buses, and then as Convenor of 6 major garages. Betty has organised the Eastbourne Mardi Gras festival which will be Eastbourne's first Pride in July.  Local trade unionists are urged to support and attend a celebration of diversity.

The sun came out for our picnic afterwards, too. A big thank you to those who braved early rain to join us. Let's make it bigger and better next year!

It was great to get such comprehensive coverage from the Eastbourne Buzz news website- Sharon and Dave came with us all the way on the march.  Watch their report below- and please share!

Eastbourne Trade Unionists marching with Pride

Trade Unionists from Eastbourne were well represented in the Brighton Pride parade, yesterday.

As trade unionists we are proud of the work we have done, and continue to do in fighting for equality- and Pride is a visible celebration of this.

The NUT South East region had an open topped bus, decorated with artwork from students at several local schools, highlighting the history of the equality struggle, and those parts of the world where LGBT people are still persecuted. Dave Brinson, secretary of Eastbourne Trades Council proudly waved his flag on this float.

Unite the Union had a bright float, featuring the Trades Council's very own Sharon Wentworth, and members of East Sussex FBU marched with the East Sussex Fire and Rescue service's brightly decorated fire engine. We were especially pleased to see them, to thank them for their work on Thursday.


The RMT Union marched proudly with their branch banner, and members of the POA were well represented in HM Prison Service's walking float.  Usdaw members marched proudly with the Tesco LGBT network, and GMB had a well-stocked information stall at the park.

It was great to be joined by students from Sussex Downs College- some proudly wearing t-shirts from the college's LGBT and Supporters network.

Maybe, with 4 active Trades Councils in East Sussex, we should consider our own float for next year- to represent the other trade unions active in our area, and to celebrate the work the that Trades Councils do every day of the year, in fighting for equalities and rights. Let us know !

Trade Unionists at Brighton Pride

Many Trade Unions will be marching proudly in the Brighton Pride Parade on Saturday 3rd August.

Dave Brinson, Secretary of both Eastbourne Trades Council and the East Sussex Division of the National Union of Teachers says:

"The NUT is proud of its long record on fighting for equality- especially for our LGBT members, and local NUT Divisions have been at the forefront of these campaigns. Former East Sussex Division Secretary and Executive member Tim Lucas highlighted the inequality faced by same-sex partners in teachers' pensions way back at NUT Conference 1983, and was the first Chair of the union's LGBT Working Party.

We will be continuing our celebration of equality and diversity with an open-topped bus as a float in the Brighton Pride Parade on 3rd August: why not join us ?" 

All NUT members are welcome, and I'm sure they could make room for other Eastbourne trade unionists !   Please meet at Madeira Drive, by Brighton Pier, no later than 10.30am on Saturday 3rd August. The Parade leaves at 11.00 and is expected to arrive at Preston Park about 90 minutes later. You will need to buy a ticket if you want to join the celebrations in the park.