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In addition, there will be steps to replace to improve the old and outdated welfare facilities at the depot, including new shower and rest facilities.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

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.'"

Eastbourne: Poverty Pay in the Public Sector !

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH COUNCIL: 42% of staff paid less than Living Wage

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL: 27% of staff paid less than Living Wage

EAST SUSSEX  HOSPITALS (DGH): 11% of staff paid less than Living Wage. 

As it is Living Wage week, we were keen to look at the situation for workers in Eastbourne. Eastbourne has many staff employed in the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors, all of which have traditionally been low-paid- although Morrisons and Lidl have recently joined the ranks of Living Wage employers. A number of other employers active in Eastbourne have also signed up to the Living Wage foundation's Living Wage accreditation, paying all staff over 18 £8.15 or more. You can read these here

Brighton and Hove City Council is accredited as a Living Wage employer, and Hastings Borough Council pays all of its directly employed staff above the Living Wage rate. So the public sector is setting a good example, yes ?...... Sadly not in Eastbourne !

East Sussex County Council employs a total of 16,200 people (many are part time and/or casual- the full time equivalent is 8,717 )   Of these, a staggering 4,373 were paid below the living wage rate- then £7.85-  in August, that's 27% of the council's workforce.

Eastbourne Borough Council employed 741, and 314 of these were paid less than the living wage. This equates to just over 42% of the council workforce.

Of those, we established that 27 were under 18 (the age at which the Living Wage Foundation expects their accredited employers to pay the Living Wage.)

Shockingly, the Borough Council still takes advantage of the lower rates within the national minimum wage to pay under 21's even less:  47 staff were paid less than the adult national minimum wage of £6,50 !

Perhaps the NHS would be better ?

Sussex Community NHS Trust, the main provider of NHS community health and care services across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and High Weald, Lewes and Havens area of East Sussex has been paying the Living Wage since 2013. Sussex Partnership NHS Trust which provides services for those with mental health problems, learning disabilities or an addiction to drugs or alcohol have agreed to do the same at Board Level and are currently looking at the logistics around implementation.

As for the good old East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Eastbourne DGH- not such good news..... as we reported earlier, of a total workforce of 7314 across the trust (including the Conquest Hopsital in Hastings) 790 people were paid less than the Living Wage: around 11% of the workforce.

Trades Council secretary, Dave Brinson recalls: "I was in a meeting a couple of years ago, when an official of the Borough council berated me for suggesting that the town was a 'low wage' economy, This would seem to prove a point- and the Borough Council itself is at the forefront of perpetuating it !"

Source for EBC and ESCC information: FoI request by Dave Brinson, covering August pay period. Source for NHS information, FoI request by Unison. 

It's (REAL) Living Wage Week !

Living Wage Week is a UK-wide celebration of the Living Wage and Living Wage Employers.

This year Living Wage Week begins on Sunday 1 November and runs to Saturday 7 November.
The week sees accredited Living Wage Employers across the country celebrate their commitment to the Living Wage.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. It is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

Don't buy into the George Osborne dishonest talk of the new "living wage": the real Living Wage is independently calculated based on EVIDENCE !:

Living Wage Foundation Director, Rhys Moore explains: "The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay."

New research reveals that almost six million people (23% of the working population) are paid less than the living wage. This is nearly half a million more than last year and an increase for the third year in a row – up from 21% in 2013 and 22% in 2014.

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 !

Low Pay Scandal at the DGH

UNISON Hastings & Eastbourne Healthcare branch issued a Freedom Of Information request to East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Eastbourne DGH  and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings,  to establish the numbers of staff which do not receive the Living Wage (Currently £7.85 per hour)

The Trust has provided the following information on the numbers of staff who are currently paid less than £7.85 Living Wage.

Permanent Staff
321 staff ( 267.70 whole-time equivalent)

Fixed Term Temporary Staff
18 staff

Primary Assignment "Bank" staff  (i.e. do not have a substantive post elsewhere within the Trust)
451 zero hours contract (so no whole time equivalent available.)

This equates to approx. 11% of the Trust workforce (7314).

Unison said: "This is to form a part of our campaign to urge the Trust to become a Living Wage employer with all the positive aspects which that brings. Not only for the staff involved with an increase in their pay packets, but also for the Trust in recruitment and retention. A positive news story ...for the Trust is needed now more than ever."

Other NHS Trusts locally either pay the living wage or have made commitments to do so.
Sussex Community NHS Trust has been paying the Living Wage since 2013. Sussex Partnership NHS Trust have agreed to do the same at Board Level and are currently looking at the logistics around implementation. Brighton and Hove CCG also pays the Living Wage.
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS pay the Living Wage for all current staff other than Bank and new starters.

Fair Pay Fortnight- Well Done Eastbourne

Eastbourne Trades Council is proud to have supported the TUC's Fair Pay Fortnight, campaigning for a Living Wage and against exploitative zero-hours contracts in Eastbourne and across the country !


Our dedicated Fair Pay for Eastbourne website has carried information about the Living Wage, advice on Zero Hours contracts, and how and which Union to join.

We have published a list of known Living Wage employers operating or employing staff living in Eastbourne.

We literally kicked off the fortnight by mobilising football fans in Eastbourne to join the 38 Degrees campaign for Fair Pay for ordinary staff such as ground staff and cleaners in Premiership football clubs. Only one team (Chelsea) is currently a Living Wage employer.  We promoted the excellent 38 Degrees petitions- one for each team in the Premier League. These are still open, and you can find your team and sign here.

We have helped the local Citizens Advice Bureau promote their survey into zero-hours or variable hours contracts in Eastbourne, and have circulated important campaigning information around combatting zero-hours contracts to union activists across the town.

We were proud to promote the work of the Citizens UK I Care about Care campaign, which is calling for a charter of rights for staff working in the social care sector. This affects many working people in Eastbourne, many of whom are not just paid under the Living Wage, but many have contracts that mean, in practice, they are being paid less than the National Minimum Wage.  We promoted Unisons' petition calling for this exploitation to end.

Stephen Lloyd MP is a vocal champion of the Apprenticeship scheme, but also a conspicuous defender of the disgraceful £2.73 per hour minimum wage for apprentices. The excellent report from the National Union of Students- entitled Forget Me Not blows apart some of the myths around the Apprenticeship scheme, and we proudly promoted this.

We have encouraged local trade unionists to support a range of national Fair Pay campaigns, including:-

• Living Wage and BECTU  union recognition for Picturehouse Cinema workers- including at the Duke of York's in Brighton.
• Amazon- Pay your staff and Pay Your Taxes- a campaign run by the GMB
• Church of England- practice what you preach- after the letter from Bishops about the Living Wage exposed failings in a number of C of E employers !

The fortnight may be over, but the campaign goes on.  We will continue to update our Fair Pay for Eastbourne site, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates.

It's FAIR PAY Fortnight !

Working people in the UK are seeing their living standards squeezed harder and harder every year. The cost of energy, food and housing is soaring but wages aren’t keeping up.

6.1 MILLION people in working households are living in poverty. This means that (excluding pensioners) there are more working households in poverty than there are workless households !

Full time workers have lost on average over £4,000 in wages since 2009 and while jobs may be returning to the economy, they’re increasingly low paid, low hours and low security.

Eastbourne has many workers who are employed in low-wage and zero-hours contracts. Eastbourne definitely needs a pay rise !
 

Eastbourne has many workers employed in the social care sector.  According to Unison, there are 220,000 care workers paid less than the minimum wage (usually through employer fiddles that falsely calculate 'working' hours)  Find out more about their campaign, and sign the petition here.

Watch the TUC's animation highlighting the every day challenges faced by millions of people hit by the cost of living crisis below.

 

 

March in London on 18th October- transport from Eastbourne

The TUC has called a mass march and rally in London as part of our campaign against cuts and so-called austerity-  for an economic recovery that benefits us all, not just those at the top.

Eastbourne Trades Council will once again be arranging some free train tickets from Eastbourne Station to the event on 18th October, for local trade unionists and their families.  We will depart on the 9.31 train, changing at Haywards Heath to a train to London Blackfriars, near to the start of the march.

If you would like to book a ticket, please sign up by clicking here.

For more information on the march, and the TUC's Britain Needs a Payrise campaign, visit the TUC site here.

Frances slams "short-term" budget

Responding to the Chancellor’s Budget today, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“This was a pre-election Budget, with its give-aways aimed at the better off rather than lifting the living standards of the many. It will be paid for by further years of austerity, public services brought to near collapse, public sector pay cuts and a welfare cap that bites into the safety net that any of us might need. 

There was nothing for the young who continue to face the worst job market in decades and unaffordable housing.  Nor was there any relief for low and middle earners who, after years of falling living standards, have no spare cash to take advantage of the help for savers, and who now face year on year cuts in benefits for working families as the welfare cap bites. 

The best news for the long-term health of the economy is the genuine help for manufacturing, but it was the exception in this highly political short-term Budget that continued the Chancellor’s project to shrink the state and help the rich.”

And the real effect on the poorest people in society was summed up by Katy Wright, head of policy for Oxfam:

"We're living in a deeply divided Britain, where just five families have the same wealth as over 12 million of the UK's poorest people. We'd be surprised if any government would be comfortable with this disparity, especially at a time when half a million people are being forced to visit foodbanks. 

The increase in personal tax allowances will actually do little for the working poor - who will see the majority of any gains taken away as benefits are clawed back - and they will make higher earners even better off" 

Campaign for a Living Wage: TC Meeting 19th November

The Living Wage campaign will be the focus of the Trades Council meeting on TUESDAY 19th NOVEMBER at 7.30pm at the Unite Eastbourne Centre.

Rhys McCarthy, a Unite national officer will be our guest speaker at the meeting. Rhys was instrumental in organising workers in one of the earliest Living Wage campaigns amongst low paid workers in London's Canary Wharf, and recently organised the high profile campaign for a Living Wage for all Sainsbury's staff.

The Living Wage Campaign has enjoyed some notable successes- but many employers in Eastbourne still pay below the £7.45 that the campaign believes is the minimum for a working person to live.

The Share Action campaign (which seeks to get shareholders mobilised in pushing for a Living Wage) reports:
"In-work poverty is a growing problem in the UK and low pay is closely associated with social disadvantages including poor health, substandard housing and personal debt. Excluding young workers, amongst whom low pay is even more prevalent, 3.5 million working adults aged over 22 were earning less than £7 in 2010. Living Wage employers report a range of benefits including raised staff morale, workforce productivity and enhanced corporate reputation."

All local trade unionists are encouraged to come along- learn more about the campaign and see how you can get involved !

Report from Annual Congress 2013

Eastbourne Trades Council secretary, Dave Brinson, was at the TUC Congress last week, as part of the NUT's delegation.  This report is taken from his blog www.DaveBrinsonNUT.blogspot.com

I was proud to represent the NUT on our delegation to the TUC Annual Conference in Bournemouth last week. This sees the representatives of the 54 affiliated unions come together to debate policy and campaigns for the Trade Union movement in the coming year.

Lesley Mercer of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists was the President for the year, and welcomed delegates to her Conference, with the theme “Jobs, Growth and Fair Pay”

Frances O'Grady, the new General Secretary, and the first woman to occupy that position, gave a barnstorming speech, where she set out the pledges that she wants our supporters to make for the forthcoming general election:

"I'm going to tell you what should go on a pledge card. And, today, I challenge politicians from all parties to say where they stand on it.

First, decent jobs. It's time to restore that goal of full employment, and give a cast iron jobs guarantee for the young. Full employment is the best way to boost the economy, drive up living standards and generate the tax that we need to pay down the deficit. And let's be clear, the reason why low-paid jobs are growing is because people have no choice but to take them. That is wrong. Employers should compete for staff. Not the other way around. Now, George Osborne will say - but how are you going to pay for it? Well, of course the best way to pay for it is by getting economic growth. That's why we need to invest in an intelligent industrial strategy for the future. But if the Chancellor wants to talk numbers here's a big one. According to the Rich List, since the crash, the 1,000 richest people in Britain increased their wealth by no less than £190bn. That's nearly double the entire budget for the NHS. So when they ask how we'll pay for it, let's tell them. Fair taxes - that's how.

One of the best ways to create jobs and apprenticeships would be to build new houses. And that's pledge number two. One million new council and affordable homes. Our country has a desperate shortage of housing. That means landlords rake it in and the housing benefit bill rockets. It drives up the cost of a buying a home, and puts people in more debt. So cut the waiting lists, stop another bubble and let's build the homes young families need.

Pledge number three: fair pay - and new wages councils to back it up. Of course the national minimum wage should go up and we need tough enforcement. But take one look at company profits and you'll see that there are plenty of industries that could, and should, pay more. That's why we need new wages councils, so unions and employers get around the table and negotiate. That's the way to guarantee not just a minimum wage, not just a living wage but a fair wage, and fair shares of the wealth workers help create.

And pledge number four could be the most popular one of all. Let's pledge that the NHS will once again be a public service run for people and not for profit. Let's make adult social care a community responsibility by bringing it together with the NHS. That would save money because good social care helps elderly people stay at home when they want to be, instead of in hospital when they don't. And while we're about it, let's have a proper system of care for our children too. So instead of shrinking the welfare state, let's strengthen it. That's the way to build a stronger economy too.

And five - fair rights at work. No more union busting. No more blacklisting. And no more zero hours. Instead we need decent employment rights; strong unions with the freedom to organise, and a bit more economic democracy. We already work with the best employers, keeping workers healthy and safe, giving them the chance to learn new skills, guaranteeing fair pay and fair treatment.Through the worst of the recession, we made thousands of agreements to save jobs and keep plants open. And let me say this, I believe there isn't a boardroom in Britain that wouldn't benefit from giving ordinary workers a voice." You can read the full speech here.    

The three days of Conference saw a range of debates- with Education very much on the agenda- both challenging the cuts and attacks from Gove and the coalition at home, and also solidarity with teachers and trade unionists abroad- Christine Blower told conference about the imprisonment of Colombian Trade Unionist Huber Ballesteros. He was supposed to be a guest at the congress, but has been imprisoned in Colombia for his trade union activities.

My friend Annette Pryce from the NUT Executive representing LGBT Teachers spoke twice in the debates on equality, including highlighting the scandal of Section 28 style policies being introduced via the back door by Academies and Free Schools.

Labour Leader Ed Miliband addressed congress, and made some welcome pledges on tackling zero-hours contracts and moving towards a Living Wage. In response to a question from NUT Presdient Beth Davies, he confirmed that an incoming Labour Government would give Local Authorities back their powers over planning school places.

The congress fringe also discussed a range of issues- from blacklisting, Living Wage and the future of the NHS (great appearance from Andy Burnham), to international issues such as Cuba, Venezuala and the fate of Colombian Trade Unionists.

As a Trades Council secretary, I was pleased that Conference agreed to enhance the role of the local trades councils (such as mine in Eastbourne) in the life of the TUC.

Trades Council Meeting: July 9th

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 9th July, 7.30pm at the Unite Eastbourne Centre (T&GWU), Grand Parade, Eastbourne.

Equal Pay- Fair Pay: Our History and the Future

Rather than a guest speaker "in the flesh" this meeting, we will be showing a 25 minute film produced by the TUC entitled Scenes from a Turbulent History- a documentary on equal pay since the 1880s. You may well have seen the movie Made in Dagenham- but this film and a super accompanying resource, uses real testimony from the working people who were actually there and brought about change.   The film is part of a resource pack on equal pay- and there will be an opportunity for the Trades Council to discuss if we want to make this resource available to others in Eastbourne.

There will also be an agenda item on the Living Wage Campaign, and an opportunity to decide whether, and how, the Eastbourne Trades Council could get involved.

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. Scenes From a Turbulent History- film showing
6. Living Wage Campaign- action in Eastbourne ?

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.
8. Trades Council Library

9. Any other business.

 

Apologies, or requests for agendas etc. in advance to the Secretary

Major changes to employment law expected in 2013

Thanks to Unite the Union for this information.

Many consultations and Government announcements on employment law took place in 2012 with resulting legislative changes likely in 2013 and beyond. However, the timescale for many of these remains unclear. The start of 2013 has seen further consultations announced.

The main pieces of legislation expected to receive Royal Assent in 2013 are the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, the Growth and Infrastructure Bill and the Children and Families Bill which are all currently progressing through Parliament. Some anticipated dates for provisions in these Bills to come into force are indicated below.

More information on the proposed reforms is in the Employment law reform progress report published in March 2013, and on the Department of Business Innovation and Skills’ web page ‘Making the labour market more flexible, efficient and fair’ (see Useful contacts below).

From February

• Increased limits on employment tribunal awards came into force on 1 February:
• a 'weeks pay' rose from £430 to £450
• the maximum compensatory award for unfair dismissal rose from £72,300 to £74,200
• the maximum basic award (and redundancy payment) rose from £12,900 to £13,500
• guarantee pay increased from £23.50 to £24.20 a day.

In March

• Unpaid parental leave increased to 18 weeks on 8 March - to comply with the EU Parental Leave Directive.

In April

• The rate of statutory sick pay (SPP) increased on 6 April from £85.85 to £86.70. The rates of maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay (SMP), statutory paternity pay (SPP), and statutory adoption pay (SAP) increased on 7 April from £135.45 to £136.78. The weekly earnings threshold for these payments also increased from £107 to £109..
• All employers have to start reporting PAYE information in real time (except where HMRC has specified a later date) - from 6 April.
• The 90-day minimum collective redundancy consultation period for large-scale redundancies was reduced from 90 days to 45 days - from 6 April. New Acas guidance is expected.
• Further changes to immigration rules and fees – from 6 April. CIPD members can see our factsheet on immigration law changes.
• Go to our Immigration law changes factsheet

In 'Summer'

• Employment tribunal fees are expected to be introduced.
• Employment tribunal procedural changes following the Underhill Review are expected to be implemented.
• A salary-based cap on compensatory reward for unfair dismissal is expected to be introduced
• Compromise agreements to become ‘settlement’ agreements, with a new Statutory Code of Practice and guidance.
• Whistleblowing changes may be introduced.
• Criminal record checks changes are expected.

In September

• If passed in the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, the Government intends to introduce a new ‘employee shareholder’ status (previously known as ‘employee owner’). Those accepting employee shareholder contracts will agree to giving up certain employment rights in return for company shares.

In October

• National Minimum Wage rates may increase - The Low Pay Commission is due to report soon.

In 'Autumn'

• Changes to the TUPE regulations may be introduced – depending on the outcome Government’s consultations.

Employment-related Acts and Bills

• Two Bills introduced in 2012, the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill and the Growth and Infrastructure Bill (see above in the 2012 changes) are continuing their progress through Parliament. They are expected to receive Royal Assent in Spring 2013 with the changes coming info force later in 2013.
• The Children and Families Bill was introduced to House of Commons on 4 February 2013. It introduces a new shared parental leave system and statutory shared parental pay, a right to time off for antenatal care, and extends the right to request flexible working to all employees. If passed, many of these changes are expected to be introduced in 2014-15.

A Future that Works: Well Done Eastbourne

Well done to those local trade unionists who joined the other 150,000 people on the march yesterday. Eastbourne was represented by colleagues from Unison, NUT, Unite, CWU, NUJ, GMB, PCS as well as comrades from Eastbourne Labour Party.

Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary of the South and Eastern Region of the TUC writes:-

"The TUC reports that 150,000 of us marched against every political thread of this government's policies for A Future That Works.  And SERTUC union branches and trades councils were at the centre of it

So many thanks to all the officers and activists who mobilised their members in their thousands to bring the message that austerity isn't working to the attention of our people.

It is possible that the government will not back down as a result of the march... we will now progress the fight further by increasing our effort on publicising the alternative, so as a starter come to next Saturday's SERTUC Regional Council to hear Frances o'Grady (TUC General Secretary Designate) outline the next steps (all SERTUC trade union members welcome but registration is essential at dlewis@tuc.org.uk)

And then come to the SERTUC pay seminar to hear and discuss with our excellent platform the underlying political attack on workers' wages and what we need to do."

SERTUC "Ending the Low Pay Culture" seminar Congress House Saturday 3 November 10am to 1pm. Register on sertucevents@tuc.org.uk

Chair Tony Lennon BECTU & SERTUC Vice-President.  Speakers include:-

o Duncan Weldon TUC Senior Economist
o Helen Kersley New Economics Foundation
o Heather Wakefield Unison Head of Local Government
o Enrico Tortolano PCS Research Officer
o Andrew Murray Unite Chief of Staff

Closing Remarks Megan Dobney SERTUC Regional Secretary

Ending the Low Pay Culture- a SERTUC Seminar: London, 3rd November

South East region TUC is hosting a morning seminar in the wake of the TUC's mass demo for 'A Future that Works' on October 20^th.

Looking at ending the low pay culture, the seminar will address: 

• Trends in workers' pay since 1975,
• Increasing workers' pay- negotiating success
• How the government's proposals for regional/local pay are not evidence based
• How workers' wages are a critical pillar of the trade unions' alternative economic strategy.

Chaired by Tony Lennon, SERTUC vice president, guest speakers will include Duncan Weldon, TUC senior policy officer, Helen Kersley of the New Economics Foundation, Heather Wakefield, head of local government for Unison and Enrico Tortolano, national research officer for PCS.

The seminar is FREE and directed towards reps, activists and union officers.

Date: Saturday 3 November

Time: 10am - 1pm (followed by lunch)

Venue: Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS

Cost: Free to attend but registration is essential

MEET THE NEW TUC GENERAL SECRETARY

There is also an opportunity to hear Frances O’Grady TUC general secretary designate address the  SERTUC Regional Council meeting. This will be just one week after the March for a Future that Works.

All trade union members from the South East may attend as observers to the meeting to hear Frances, although advance registration is essential. Congress House 10am on Saturday 27 October. Contact Darren Lewis at SERTUC-  dlewis@tuc.org.uk