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

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 Schools Hit by Funding Cuts!

The updated School Cuts website  shows that Government funding policy for schools means that schools in Eastbourne will be nearly £2.5 million worse off by 2019/20 than they were in 2015/16.

The website, published by the NUT and other school unions, compares each school’s funding in 2015-16 with the funding the Government predicts it will receive in 2019-20 under its proposed new National Funding Formula (NFF), adjusted for the impact of inflation and cost increases imposed on schools. 

Despite reassurances in the Conservative party election manifesto, (and warm words from local MP Caroline Ansell) that school budgets would be protected, this is clearly not the case.  The NFF will simply redistribute existing money across the country, while the Government’s funding freeze and inflation and employer cost increases will cut the value of every school’s funding by almost 10 per cent. The NUT estimates that this combination of a new funding formula and cost increases means that 98% of schools will be worse off in 2019-20. 

The National Audit Office has warned that schools will need to save £3 billion by the end of this Parliament and that they are ill equipped to do this. The latest DfE figures show that 60% of secondary schools are already in deficit.

NUT Divisional Secretary Dave Brinson said: ‘Under this Government’s funding policies, there are no winners, only losers. East Sussex schools are being forced to make decisions that no head teacher should have to make including reducing school staff and teachers, increasing class sizes, and reducing the range of subjects offered simply to balance the book.  This is an unacceptable state of affairs The NUT and ATL will continue campaigning for additional funding, to protect schools and our children’s education"

SECONDARY BUDGET CUTS IN EASTBOURNE BY 2019

PRIMARY BUDGET CUTS IN EASTBOURNE BY 2019

This is based on announced Government Policy on the new school funding formula, and the failure to increase school budgets by inflation.

Per pupil £ cuts are based on the number shown as being on roll at the last DfE School Census

The "Teachers Cut" figure represents the number of teacher jobs based that would, on average, need to be lost to achieve this saving.  

Click here to visit the site, which is supported by NUT, ATL, NAHT, Unison, Unite and GMB.

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 !

Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 22nd July

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 22nd July, 7.30pm at the Unite Eastbourne Centre (T&GWU), Grand Parade, Eastbourne. The meeting will hear from invited guests about the recent public sector action, and have a chance to discuss the next steps in the campaign, including planning for the TUC National Demonstration in October.

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 and matters arising

4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer

5. PUBLIC SECTOR DISPUTE (10th July Action etc.)  Guest speakers from Unison and NUT, plus PCS and FBU invited, followed by discussion.

6. DGH Campaign Update

7. 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 !

July 11th- Eastbourne on Strike

Eastbourne trade unionists joined over a million colleagues in strike action, against the attacks on pay, conditions and pensions from the coalition Government.

The majority of schools  in Eastbourne were either fully closed, or severely limited, as NUT teachers joined support staff from Unison and GMB.  PCS members walked out at the DWP/Job Centre, local government staff from Unison and GMB took action- with picket lines at St Mark and St Mary's House, and firefighters at Eastbourne Fire Station took action against absurd proposals to make them work to 60 (or be sacked on medical grounds before)

Representatives from Eastbourne Trades Council proudly carried our banner in a mass march in Brighton and Hove, where over 3,000 people took to the streets.

ALL OUT on July 10th

Teachers from NUT, School and Local Government staff from Unison, Unite and GMB, Civil Servants from PCS and Firefighters from the FBU will be taking strike action for pay, conditions and workload on Thursday.

Most schools in Eastbourne will be partially or fully closed, and there will be picket lines on the ESCC buildings at St Mary's and St Marks' House from Unison. Services at Eastbourne Borough Council and the Job Centre will be severely disrupted, and Eastbourne Fire Station will be closed.

Public servants do not take strike action lightly: we came into these jobs because we believe in public service. However, the assault on our jobs at the hands of this coalition government cannot continue.

The 1% pay increase after three years of pay freeze (when bills are rising: that was year on year of real terms CUTS) has hit public servants harder than the average in the private sector.

Pension hikes and the extension of retirement ages threaten the spectre of firefighters, teachers and frontline staff working into their 60's, or being sacked on health grounds after years of dedicated service.

Thousands of jobs (yes, including front line jobs) have been slashed in the most essential services.  Civil servants have been bullied into "sanctioning" claimants who are entitled to support, on the most spurious technicalities.

Eastbourne trades unionists will be on the picket line on Thursday morning, followed by mass rallies in Brighton (over 2,000 expected to march) and Hastings. Show them your support !

AGM- Priorities for 2014

The Eastbourne Trades Council held its AGM on Tuesday 1st April, at the Unite Eastbourne Centre.

The meeting welcomed new and old delegates and supporters, and also stood for a minute's silence in honour of the recently passed Tony Benn and Bob Crow.

Val Thomas (NASUWT) was re-elected as Chair, with Georgina Hazeldine (Unite) as Vice-Chair.  Dave Brinson (NUT) was re-elected as secretary, and Gordon Dyer (Unite) as Treasurer.

The meeting welcomed new affiliates CWU (Southdowns, Weald and Rother branch) and RMT (East Sussex Coastway branch) to the Trades Council.

The meeting discussed priorities for the year- including support for:-

Workers Memorial Day, 28th April.  We will again be collecting signatures for a remembrance card in the Town Centre during the weekend before, and will be writing to all churches and places of worship in Eastbourne, asking them to mark the day.

Hastings Trades Council's Five Days in May joint event with trade unionists in Dieppe, France.  We will ensure that our banner is at the Hastings end, and will circulate information to all of our workplaces.

Supporting the Save the DGH- Option 7 campaign. The "consultation" being carried out at the moment does not allow respondents to support maternity and paediatrics being multi-sited at both Eastbourne and Hastings. We will expose this sham of a consultation, and urge our members and supporters to actively campaign for consultant-led services at both sites.

The meeting also awarded the Len Caine Award to long-standing former  Unite steward, health and safety officer and branch chair Ray Goree.  Ray is unwell at the moment, so arrangements will be made to present him with his prize soon.

NUT and NASUWT to strike tomorrow

Members of the NUT and the NASUWT teacher unions, who together represent 9 out of 10 teachers, are both in dispute with the Government. The failure of the Government to enter into meaningful talks aimed at reaching agreement is now leading to strike action.

These disputes cover:

• Excessive workload and bureaucracy;
• Cuts and other changes to teachers’ pay;
• Adverse changes to their pensions;
• Job cuts.

Teachers are deeply concerned about the impact these imposed changes are having on the morale of the teaching profession, the recruitment and retention of teachers and on the provision of quality education for pupils. The NUT and the NASUWT are asking the Government to enter into genuine talks to resolve this dispute.

Members of the NUT and the NASUWT teacher unions have been engaged in jointly co-ordinated industrial action short of strike. This action by our members has been designed to enable teachers to focus on the job of teaching and to prevent a crisis in the teaching profession which could have devastating consequences for our schools.

However, the Secretary of State for Education is continuing to make changes to teachers’ pay, pensions and conditions of service that are not supported by teachers and are making it much harder for schools to recruit and retain good teachers. The Secretary of State for Education is refusing to engage in genuine talks with the NUT and the NASUWT about teachers’ concerns, despite numerous requests by both unions.

Teachers deeply regret the disruption caused by strike action. However, the Government’s refusal to engage to resolve the dispute means that they have no alternative other than to demonstrate to the Government the seriousness of their concerns.

Most Eastbourne schools will be shut tomorrow, as staff take this unfortunate but necessary action in defence of our profession.

Solidarity with the NUT in Hastings

As you may have heard, NUT members at William Parker Sports College in Hastings will be taking strike action tomorrow, in protest at their transfer to the ARK Academy chain, which does not recognise School Teachers Pay and Conditions.

While Hastings is not in our Trades Council area, a number of members live in Eastbourne- and the actions of East Sussex County Council in this saga do not bode well for trade unionists in Eastbourne schools !   While only NUT are taking tomorrow's action,  all of the TUC-affiliated unions in the school (NASUWT, ATL, UNISON and GMB) are firmly opposed to Academy status, and the way that East Sussex have imposed the ARK chain without any debate or consultation with staff, unions, parents or the local community.

(ARK, incidentally was set up by hedge fund managers, and run by a board of trustees including fund managers, bankers, the Tory Party treasurer and a former News International executive.)

The NUT  had productive talks with East Sussex County Council and ARK last week, and were willing to postpone the strike action to allow for further talks. Under trade union law, this would have required the employer to request an extension to the negotiation time.  EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL REFUSED, ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS, TO TAKE UP THIS OFFER.  

 

If the county believe that they can call members' bluff over this, they are sorely mistaken. Members gave a 100% yes vote for action, and are angry at the intransigence of the County Council.

Messages of solidarity can be sent via Dave Brinson, East Sussex NUT Division Secretary.  The campaign has a website where these will be displayed alongside other information about the dispute.  View the site here.

Standing up for Jobs and Education

NUT and NASUWT members took solidly-supported strike action over proposed job cuts at Sussex Downs College last week.

While the Unions welcome progress that has been made through negotiations with SDC management to reduce the number of redundancies, members still face significant cuts in hours.

The unions warn that cuts may lead to increased workload for  members, higher class sizes and less teaching time for students. They are bad for NUT and NASUWT members and bad for education.

Division Secretary of the East Sussex NUT, Dave Brinson explained:

"We are calling on SDC management to take urgent further action to avoid job reductions and losses. However we recognise that significant blame lies with recent savage Government policy towards post-16 education:

·         Independent research published recently (by the Institute for Fiscal Studies) has provided details of the impact of the cuts on the post-16 sector.  Sixth form funding will be cut by 17.6 per cent in real terms over the period to 2014.

·         The Government’s cuts come at a time when the increase in the education participation age to 18 will put additional pressure on individual colleges.  The increase in the participation age must be fully funded – instead the Government is cutting 16-19 funding in an attempt to implement increased participation on the cheap !

·         The abolition of the EMA has affected student numbers, as it has deterred many potential students from lower-income backgrounds"

The strike mainly involved teachers at the former Park College, where most staff were NUT and NASUWT members. The rest of Sussex Downs College is organised by the UCU Lecturers union, who are also in dispute with the college over cuts, but did not take strike action this week.

Media Coverage of the Strike

Good media coverage of the action and the rally in Eastbourne.

• Online slide show of photos from the Herald


• On strike day, the Gazette ran a significant feature on Trades Council secretary and NUT official Dave Brinson


• Feature from Unison, looking at the impact of the changes on low paid workers.


• Also, local MP Stephen Lloyd (former speaker at the Trades Council) says that the Government is offering a "reasonable" compromise, and is offering "even more money" (they aren't!)


• School Closures listed in the Eastbourne Gazette. More than half of East Sussex schools were completely shut.

The Eastbourne Herald of 2nd December reported that its online poll suggested that 51% of readers supportted the strikes. The same issue also contained a bitter and ill-informed article by Anne-Marie Field, suggesting "More attitude, less gratitude." Very few Trade Unionists will agree that asking to receive the pensions that we paid for in good faith throughout our working life is asking any sort of favour !

Eastbourne says "Hands off our Pensions"

A huge turnout of public sector workers and our allies from private sector staff and retired workers attended the Trades Council organised rally at Eastbourne Bandstand on November 30th.

Originally, the plan had been to meet at the top level of the bandstand and then march down to the Unite Eastbourne Centre for a rally. However, by 10.30 it became visibly apparent that there was no way even half of those assembled could fit into the Conference Hall. So, thanks to some portable PA equipment (provided by Calvin Prior of Calvin Prior and the Riderbacks) an impromptu open-air rally was staged at the bandstand.

Trades Council Secretary and NUT Executive Member Dave Brinson opened the proceedings, welcoming the huge turnout from a range of local unions.

As well as the teachers' unions NUT, NASUWT and ATL, support staff, local government and health workers from Unison, GMB and Unite, civil servants from PCS and university and college staff from UCU, there were banners from specialist unions such as the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, the Society of Radiographers and the Association of Educational Psychologists. We were joined by Head Teachers from the NAHT, taking action for the first time in their history, and school inspectors and advisers from Aspect. Most heartening was the significant support from private sector staff who were not on duty that morning, but had come along to show solidarity.

Dave pointed out the fact that the Government continues to refuse to revalue the schemes, to tell us how much of our money is in the pot. He told the crowd that "...I have a small savings product, and when I go to the bank, they tell me how much is in it, how it's doing, and what fees they are taking. Why will the Government not show us the same courtesy ?"

He ended with a plea to all those assembled not to let the Government and the tabloid press paint this as a public vs private conflict. He quoted from the excellent research by the National Pensioners' Convention showing the appallingly low level of the state pension in comparison to other European countries, and the attacks on occupational and private pensions in recent years.

Finally- he invoked Ricky Tomlinson's Jim Royle character in response to the allegations of "gold plated pensions" citing the average woman worker in local government who will retire on just £2500 a year. "Gold plated ....?" he asked. The crowd were able to finish the Jim Royle-style sentence !

Sharon Wentworth and Gordon Dyer spoke on behalf of private sector workers in Unite the Union, expressing firm solidarity. Gordon told the crowd that we had a "neo-Thatcherite Government declaring war on working people"

Christine Lewis and Dave Fellows from Unison spoke, along with a colleague from PCS. The 500+ crowd then marched through the town centre to the Town Hall, with Gordon Dyer proudly leading the march under the Trades Council banner.

Fair Pensions for ALL: The Facts

Fair Pensions for All is a pamphlet produced jointly with Unite, PCS, UCU and the National Pensioners Convention. This document dispels the myths about public sector pensions, exposes the scandal of pension provision in the private sector and sets out the compelling case for fair pensions for all.

• The UK currently has the fourth lowest state pension in the EU- only Estonia, Latvia and Cyprus pay less to keep pensioners in security and dignity in old age. The basic state pension is currently £102 a week, worth only 57% of the government’s official weekly pensioner poverty level of £178


• More than two million UK pensioers officially live below the poverty line, with a further million in fuel poverty.


• Just over a decade ago nearly half of all private sector workers were in a workplace pension scheme; today it is only a third.


• However, while pensions have been ripped away from ordinary workers, the directors of large companies continue to net very generous pensions averaging £175,000 per year in retirement. These generous fat cat schemes at the top lapped up the bulk of the £37.6bn in tax relief that private sector pensions get every year.


• The Hutton report “firmly rejected the claim that current public service pensions are ‘gold plated’ …the median payment is around £5,600”. This equates to just over £100 per week in retirement. For a woman worker in local government the average pension is just £2,600.

Download the full facts, in the leaflet HERE

N30: Eastbourne Rally for Pensions

EASTBOURNE SAYS: HANDS OFF OUR PENSIONS !
Decent pensions for ALL

A rally to support the public sector pensions strike, and to call for action for dignity and security in retirement for all – in both the public and the private sector.

Wednesday 30th November.
The Unite Eastbourne Centre, Grand Parade, Eastbourne Seafront

Assemble at 10.30am by Eastbourne Bandstand; rally at the Unite Centre at 11.00am

Speakers to include: DAVE BRINSON (NUT National Executive), DAVE FELLOWS (UNison Schools Convenor) and speakers from the striking Unions.

N30: March for Pensions in Brighton

BRIGHTON MARCH AND RALLY TO SAVE OUR PENSIONS

On June 30th, when members of NUT, ATL, UCU and PCS took strike action over pensions, thousands of people took to the streets in Brighton. On 30th November, up to 20 Unions will be taking action across the country, so the turnout will dwarf June’s event.

Eastbourne Trade Unionists who can travel are encouraged to support the March and Rally in Brighton, alongside striking colleagues from across the region.

Wednesday November 30th
Assemble: Victoria Gardens, Brighton at 11.45 for a march through the city centre and then a rally at The Level.

Guest speakers to include Caroline Lucas MP (Green) and Tony Burke- Deputy General Secretary of Unite the Union, plus others from the striking unions.

Eastbourne Unites to Defend Pensions

Trade unions across the public sector are preparing to take action to defend pensions against an onslaught from the Government that would leave millions of public servants working longer, paying more and getting less in retirement.

The Government has made what it claims to be concessions, and the unions are carefully considering the implications of these- however the Government still refuses to carry out a valuation of the pension funds to tell us how much money is in the schemes. (The agreed changes to the pension schemes in 2005-6 were made based on the valuation, and were sustainable and affordable. What has changed in the intervening years ?)

If you buy a financial product (such as a pension) from your bank, you would expect to be told how much money is in it, how it is performing, and what fees are being taken. We expect no less from the Government !

And this is NOT a public vs private sector dispute. Trade Unionists in the private sector have seen dreadful attacks on their pensions, with employers failing to make appropriate employer-side contributions, or taking complete breaks from their obligations when the schemes were healthy (so calles "pension holidays") The Government must take urgent action to ensure that all workers have access to a decent pension scheme to provide dignity and security in old age.

In Eastbourne, members of the NUT, the ATL, and UCU education unions, and PCS civil servants took well supported action in June. It looks increasingly likely that they will be joined by Unison members across the public sector, who have voted to approve action, plus results are awaited from the NASUWT teachers' union, the National Association of Head Teachers, and general unions GMB and Unite. Senior civil servants in the FDA and specialists in Prospect are also balloting.

Officers of the local unions will be meeting this week to discuss what action can be taken to publicise and support the campaign, including on the 30th November if we are forced to take strike action. Watch this site for updates.

ALL OUT for Public Service Pensions: June 30th

Members of the National Union of Teachers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the University and Colleges Union and the Public and Commercial Services Union will be taking strike action over attacks on their pension schemes on 30th June.

Members are angry at proposals that would make members work longer, pay more and get less for their pensions. The Government is plucking figures from the sky, yet have consistently refused to undertake a valuation of the pension funds (overdue by more than a year) to prove whether or not the schemes, which members pay handsomely for, are sustainable. We firmly believe that such a valuation would show that they ARE.

The Government has made much of its willingness to "negotiate", but the negotiations have been next to meaningless. They refuse to discuss:

The 50% increase in members' contributions to the schemes (even though the unions had already agreed to an increase if the Government could demonstrate that this was necessary to make the scheme sustainable- and proved by a revaluation)

The increase in retirement age from 60 or 65 (depending on the schemes) to 68 years old.

The move to a "career average" scheme- hitting women members hardest, who often secure their promotion later in their career becauseof family commitments (also with the threat of changing the accrual rate, so you would have to work 50 years, rather than the current 40 or 30, to get your full pension)

The imposed change in the calculation of inflation to determine annual increases in pensions from RPI to the lower CPI rate. This has been imposed on existing pensioners, despite the legal right not to have their pensions retrospectively changed.

In Eastbourne the action is going to be strongly supported. We know already that Bishop Bell, Eastbourne Academy, Hazel Court, Ocklynge, Bourne, West Rise, Langney, and Pevensey and Westham schools will be shut, with Ratton, Willingdon, The Lindfield, Cavendish, Shinewater and others opening only to a fraction of the students.

Sussex Downs College and the University of Brighton will be signifiacntly affected, and PCS members at the Department for Work and Pensions, the Tax office and the Driving Standards Agency will also be taking action.

Other unions including the NASUWT, Unison, GMB and the non-TUC National Association of Head Teachers are considering or have announced balloting for action in the Autumn.

Members of these Unions and other supporters are encouraged to attend the march and rally in Brighton, meeting at The Level for 10.30am, or the Hastings Rally at the White Rock Theatre also at 10.30am (Trades Council Secretary Dave Brinson and SERTUC Regional Secretary Megan Dobney will be speaking at the Hastings event.)

For more information on the Pensions Campaign, visit the NUT Website, the ATL website, the UCU website or the PCS website.

Hastings Trades Council March and Rally

Our brothers and sisters in the Hastings Trades Council will be staging a march and rally on 19th April to put the case for the alternatives to the savage cuts being inflicted on their town and our region, including:-

• CONQUEST HOSPITAL…….JOB CUTS AND CLOSURE OF WARDS


• ASHDOWN HOUSE…..JOB CUTS AND PRIVITISATION


• HERON HOUSE…..JOB CUTS AND PRIVITISATION


• HASTINGS COUNCIL…..JOB CUTS AND CUTS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES


• C.A.B……JOB CUTS


• HASTINGS VOLUNTARY SERVICES……JOB CUTS


• ROYAL MAIL……JOB CUTS AND PRIVITISATION


• TAX OFFICE….PARTIAL CLOSURE.

The demonstration is being supported by Unite, Unison, GMB, BUT, PCS, Usdaw, the CWU, FBU, RMT, TSSA and ASLEF, plus others from the local community. The march assembles at 12.30pm at Hastings Pier on Saturday 19th April. For more details contact the Sam Buckley of the Hastings Trades Council at swpsam@hotmail.com 0r 07807 289253

Eastbourne Trades Council- back up and running

The Eastbourne Trades Council had its re-founding AGM (after ten years) on 15th February at the Unite Eastbourne Centre.

Local union stewards and representatives from NUT, NASUWT, Unite, Unison, TSSA, PCS, Usdaw, GMB and NUJ met to agree plans for the coming year.

Megan Dobney, the Regional Secretary from the South East Region TUC (pictured) was the guest speaker and spoke about the role of the Trades Councils and the current campaigns of the TUC. In particular, she spoke about the organisation against the cuts- building for the "March for the Alternative" National Demonstration on 26th March, but also about the need to organise before and afterwards, especially in light of the local elections coming up in May.

The meeting agreed to support the demonstration, and to ensure a good presence from Eastbourne. We agreed to support the PCS coach, and publicise this to local trade unionists. There was also agreement to support the work of the Eastbourne Against Cuts group.

The officers elected at the meeting were: Val Thomas (Chair,) Dave Brinson (Secrteray,) John Goddard (vice Chair) and Gordon Dyer (Treasurer.) Ian Thomas and Sharon Wentworth were nominated to the Executive Committee. Michael Litchfield will take the Health and Safety and Disabilities responsibility, Claire French the womens' portfolio, Lib Blayney- young members, and Pia Sands and Pat Bacon the retail sector.

Any local trade unionists who would like to receive copies of the full minutes of the meeting, should contact the Secretary.

The next meeting will be April 5th, where the speaker to be invited will be on the CWU Keep the Post Public campaign.