Save our English Language Service!

NEU, Unison, GMB and NASUWT members in the English as an Additional Language Service need your URGENT help!

East Sussex County Council is proposing to close down the English as an Additional Language Service entirely- with all of its specialist teachers and bi-lingual support officers facing redundancy, and losing this wealth of expertise and experience to local schools forever.

The decision has come following a decision from the Local Authority Secondary Schools not to continue 'de-delegating' a fixed amount from their budget to EALS. These schools would almost certainly continue to purchase some services from the EALS service on a "buy in" basis however, as Academy schools already do.

The Local Authority Primary Schools have committed to continue funding the service- that's more than three-quarters of the existing budget. However the County Council are claiming that, even with this and the expectation of a buy-in from the Secondaries, that the service will not be viable.

Our members actually working within the Service disagree, and have made clear financial proposals that would keep the service open, and keep this vital support available to some of our most vulnerable children.

Please take a couple of minutes to help our colleagues in three ways:

1) Make a submission to the County Council's online consultation about the closure of the service. This is a very short survey and will only take a few minutes- but it is vital that we get a good number of returns from education professionals such as yourselves.

2) Send a short email to your local County Councillor. This decision is being made "in their name" and they have the right and responsibility to hold the senior management at ESCC to account. You can find who your local County Councilllor is, and their email, by clicking and inputting your postcode here.

3) Spread the word! Let your colleagues know this is happening. Ask your Head Teacher to lobby ESCC to keep a service open. If you have friends and neighbours who share your concern then ask them to add their voice. If you would like printed materials for your staffroom or friends, please let us know.

We will continue putting information about this situation on our dedicated website for the campaign:

www.SaveEALS.com

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!

May Day: We marched!

Eastbourne trade unionists proudly marched through the town on Monday to mark International Workers' Day.  This year, the march proudly welcomed a contingent of staff, parents and students from the East Sussex Music Service, whose instrumental teaching service was earmarked for closure last month.  Nearly 12,000 people have signed the petition against closure: if you haven't yet, please click here.

Other banners and flags on the march included the National Education Union, Unite the Union, RMT, Unite Communuity,  Usdaw, The People's Assembly, Eastbourne Labour Women's Forum,  East Sussex Co-operative Party,  and Devonshire and Meads Labour Party. 

A rally and picnic at the Wish Tower slopes was introduced by Trades Council secretary Dave Brinson. Attendees heard an impassioned speech from Jane Humberstone, union rep at East Sussex Music Service, as well as from  Lucette Davies from East Sussex Save the NHS,  Unison's Chrissie Parsons about threatened social care closures including Milton Grange and Firwood House, and Julie Hart of USDAW speaking about her union's Respect for Shopworkers campaign.  Carol Mills from Unite Community spoke about some of Eastbourne's less well-known radical history. 

The marchers were pleased to be visited by local MP Stephen Lloyd at the start of the march in Hyde Gardens, and to welcome USDAW's new national President, Amy Murphy, as a guest at the rally.

The May Day march was a feature in Eastbourne's campaigning calendar for decades, and the Trades Council were thrilled to bring this tradition back last year, after a twenty year gap.

Nature of the Beast

Eastbourne Labour Party will be presenting the first showing of this acclaimed documentary film about Labour and trade union stalwart Dennis Skinner MP at the Curzon on Saturday 30th September. The event has been sponsored by the Trades Council, Unison East Sussex Hospitals branch and Usdaw Sussex.

Tickets are £6 with £5 for concessions, and can be booked in advance through Eventbrite by clicking here.

You can find out more about the film at the filmmakers' website by clicking here  and there is a trailer for the film viewable on YouTube by clicking here.

Nearly 80 jobs to go at Eastbourne Borough Council?

It's not often we offer fulsome praise to the newspapers- either local or national. But this week, the Eastbourne Independent has it spot on.

Eastbourne Borough Council- via an expensive and private PR contract (long gone are the days of professional press officers working directly for councils in the public good!) managed the most impressive and horrifying spin on a new arrangement with Lewes District Council.... and the loss of 79 jobs from the Borough Council's dedicated workforce.

For once, we can't put it any better than the local press.  Reporter Peter Lindsay said:

"Hang on, look what that sentence says: 'The new working arrangements will see both councils consulting with staff over the reduction of up to 79 full-time posts.

Buried at the bottom. Up to 79 full time job losses.

To try to hide that, and bury it so low down, is simply wrong. It is treating the people of Eastbourne - and indeed the Lewes district - with contempt. 

We expect openness and we expect honesty. This is an example of neither, and if the taxpayer is paying Cobb PR to pump out council material, then it should not be done in such a shocking way as this.

And one last thought which the council and PR staff would do well to take heed of. What I dislike most is the lack of humanity shown.  

These are people. Losing their jobs. They shouldn't be treated as a footnote on a press release.  

They should be given respect. They should be thanked for their work. "

You can read the full article here.  We will be in contact with Unison at Eastbourne and Lewes to give local trade unionists the full picture. Meanwhile, Peter Lindsey's opening words in that Eastbourne Independent say it all: 

"I honestly think today that leaders and senior officials at Eastbourne Borough Council should hang their heads in shame. "

Here come the cuts....again !

East Sussex County Council is launching a "consultation" about proposals to massively cut the funding of Adult Social Care services in the County. 

Already these services which care for our elderly and other most vulnerable people in our society have been cut to the bone. For many years, as activists, we've heard the hollow promise whenever cuts are floated by a local authority, that the "voluntary sector" will be supported in picking up the pieces. However, now even the grant funding to charitable and third-sector providers is being slashed, so these services will go too.

It is proposed that the budget for commissioned services will be cut by more than 75%, meaning the end of such valuable services as the "home from hospital" care support currently provided by Age Concern Eastbourne, supported by grant funding.

Back in February, when ESCC agreed £18 million of cuts as part of a three-year £67 million cuts package, David Elkin, Tory County Councillor for Eastbourne's Sovereign Ward claimed: “We’ve proven in recent years that we can be trusted to act prudently and responsibly, but the climate of austerity we’re operating in means more difficult decisions have to be made...[1]"  Whether his constituents who rely on the direct or commissioned services he's voting to cut will agree, is another matter. Laughably, he more recently claimed: "This is a challenge but also an opportunity to come up with imaginative new ways of delivering services, including working more closely with our partners, communities and the voluntary sector.[2] "   More creative ways meaning cutting the funding to the voluntary sector just as he has to directly provided services, presumably.

The final budget plan will be put to the County Council in early 2016. The Tories do not have a majority on the County Council- having to rely on Independents and UKIP to prop them up. Please lobby your local councillor, and also take part in the online "consultation" making clear you oppose these service cuts. The consultation is open until 24th November.

We will keep you up to date with other action- including any protest or industrial action in support of jobs and services that is called by the affiliated trade unions.

Next Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 17th November

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 17th 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 new affiliations.
3. Minutes of previous meeting (September) and matters arising. 
4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer
5. ANTI CUTS CAMPAIGNS- including adult social care and others
6. LIVING WAGE CAMPAIGNS: Update on campaigns, including reports from Unison, People's Assembly and others involved in the campaign.
7. Report from  East Sussex County Association of Trades Councils
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 !

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 !

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 !

Hands off our Hospitals- film from 38 Degrees

Campaigning group 38 degrees have contacted us today regarding the Care Bill and Jeremy Hunt's plans to seize powers to fast-track hospital closures:

Jeremy Hunt’s ‘hospital closure clause’ is dangerously close to becoming law. [1] It could put all hospitals across England at risk and it has just been announced that the crucial vote is only a week away. If we’re going to win this we’ve got to move quickly.

Our best chance to stop it is if David Cameron and Nick Clegg see that the reputation of their party is at risk if the plans go ahead.

Luckily we’ve got exactly what we need! Over the last few days, award winning filmmakers have been working at break-neck speed to pull together a hard-hitting video. Everyone watching will see why Jeremy Hunt’s plans need to be stopped.

If all 2.5 million of us who get this email share the video with a few friends it will be seen by more people than the X-factor, Eastenders or the Great British Bake-off! So please check it out below and then forward it on and share with your friends, family and colleagues.

Already 150,000 of us have signed our names to the petition against the hospital closure clause. Now we need to make sure that everywhere they turn, Cameron and Clegg see that the public outrage about the hospital closure clause. Please watch and share thevideo now

No to closure of Dementia Wards !: Please sign

UNISON has reacted strongly to proposals advocating the closure of two highly valued local dementia wards in Uckfield and St Leonards-on-Sea.

The three Clinical Commissioning Groups covering East Sussex are currently consulting on the provision of NHS beds provided by Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust for the admission and assessment of people with dementia. Three out of their four proposals include either a bed reduction or a closure of at least one of the wards, causing grave concern to people using and providing the current service.

UNISON Sussex Partnership Branch Communications Officer Nick McMaster said :

“Closure of either Beechwood Ward in Uckfield or St Gabriels Ward in St Leonards-on-Sea is likely to mean frail patients and relatives having to travel significantly further to receive specialist inpatient care. Community dementia services are already heavily over-stretched and are unlikely to be able to provide the same level of support to patients with high care needs. Given the projected increase in dementia due to an increasingly ageing population, we are concerned that a vital public service is going to be dismantled in the chase for financial savings disguised as new models of care”

In an ideal world we would all like our loved ones to be treated at home, but what happens when people are just too poorly? With bed occupancy rates sometimes over 100% and nearly all of them being filled by East Sussex residents, proposals to close units are deeply worrying.”

UNISON members who work in the two units are planning to take their concerns to the streets in order to speak directly to the public. Nick says “The CCGs have supposedly been in ‘public consultation’ about this since August, although they are only allowing comments online or in writing. We are not afraid to go to the public and intend to engage them in real conversation”.

 

The "consultation" closed on 25th October, but you can still sign the petition on 38 Degrees website by clicking here-  we know how important it is to keep the pressure up on NHS managers !

NHS for Beginners- Seminar Friday 18th Jan

The Socialist Health Association (a campaigning group and an affiliated society to the Labour Party) is inviting trade unionists and others to a seminar to explain how we can get more involved in their  NHS.

The NHS For Beginners project is intended to help more people get involved in their local NHS. Most people have very little idea about how the NHS is organised. We plan to run classes across England directed at people who are not currently involved in the NHS.

What is the NHS exactly?
If we want to defend it what are we defending?
How could we defend it?

There are various opportunities for lay people to be involved in the running of the English NHS.

• There is local Healthwatch – to be launched in April 2013.
• You can be a member, or be elected as a Governor, of Foundation Trusts.
• Local councils have increasing involvement in the running of the NHS, taking over Public Health responsibilities in April 2013 and establishing health and wellbeing boards as well as the existing Health Scrutiny arrangements.
• Clinical Commissioning Groups have various arrangements for involving patients and the public, and so increasingly do local GP practises.

This seminar will consider what the possibilities for using these mechanisms to defend the NHS .  It will take place at the Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, from 2-4pm. There is no charge, but you must book.

Click here to learn more and book your place.
More information can also be found by downloading the UNISON guide to influencing the new NHS

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.

Support Unite members in Southampton

Unite and Unison members at Tory-controlled Southampton City Council need your help.

4,300 workers have been told they will be sacked on July 11th unless they take a pay cut and sign inferior contracts. Council leader, Royston Smith, has refused to negotiate with the unions, Unite and Unison, and has instead tried to impose cuts on workers.

The unions proposed wage freezes in return for security for jobs and services - but Royston Smith rejected these out of hand. This forced the workers into taking industrial action. All they want is a fairer way forward. They now need your support.

It is essential that they win their dispute. If the Tory leadership at Southampton gets away with imposing pay cuts without negotiating then other councils, and indeed private sector employers, will follow suit.

Southampton workers are taking a stand but they urgently need your support.



Please help by making a donation to the strike fund. Your contributions, however small, can help: * TGWU 2/8 Strike Fund, Unity Trust Bank, Ac No: 20185358, Sort Code: 08-60-01
*NB: this is a Unite fund. A long-standing TGWU account is being used to ensure there is no delay in supporting the workers.

March against Legal Aid Cuts: 3rd June

There will be a march in Eastbourne as part of a National Day of Action on Friday 3rd June 2011 in response to the recent government proposals to cut the Legal Aid Budget. These proposals will have an impact on people who need access to specialist Debt, Housing and Welfare Benefit, Employment, Immigration (where the litigant is not detained), Consumer, Education, Civil and Family Law advice, as well as impact on those agencies who provide this advice.

The Ministry of Justice received over 5,000 responses to their consultation on legal aid reform. Respondents, many of whom were CAB’s and organisations with charity status currently providing legal aid funded advice, are concerned that the proposals are lacking in evidence, misunderstand the extent and range of legal advice needs and underestimate the potential impact on the poorest and most vulnerable people[i]. A clear message about the need for legal aid funding has been sent to the MOJ and it is being ignored in the rush to cut public expenditure

Eastbourne Citizens Advice Bureau and Brighton Housing Trust’s Eastbourne Advice Centre will be leading a march against the cuts, setting off from 1.30pm outside Debenhams, Terminus Road on Friday 3rd June. Stephen Lloyd MP, who has raised his concerns in several parliamentary debates, will be joining us. A stall will also be based outside Barclays Bank, in the Town Centre, with information about the proposals and a petition for the general public to sign and the march will pause here to hear from him.

Should the proposals be agreed, funding for Social Welfare Law advice in East Sussex will be halved at a time when services are under increasing pressure and demand. Residents will find themselves without access to Legal Aid at the very time when events in their lives, cuts to services or changes to the benefit system mean they are most in need of specialist advice. Good quality specialist advice enables people to take control of their lives.

The Eastbourne Advice Agencies are keen to have strong representation would therefore appreciate it if you could circulate this letter and encourage people to attend. It would also be appreciated if you could confirm attendance with trudy@esap.org.uk, who will provide you with further details should you require any, or via the Facebook Page which has been set up; “Eastbourne Day of Action against cuts to Legal Aid”