A forum for trade unionists and union branches with members in the Eastbourne area. Meets and campaigns on unions' campaigns and the priorities of the TUC in Eastbourne.
Showing posts with label people's assembly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label people's assembly. Show all posts
Eastbourne Trades Council are proud to have supported the United Nations Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day on Saturday.
Carol and Louise from the Sussex Unite Community branch proudly led the socially-distanced banner display on Eastbourne beach- our banner was there alongside affiliates PCS and Unite, and other campaigning organisations such as Eastbourne People's Assembly.
The Trades Council is proud to be supporting the Eastbourne Branch of Stand Up to Racism, and looks forward to continuing to promote its campaigns.
Commemorate May Day (a bit late, but using the May Day holiday!) with workers around the world. March with our trade union banners through Eastbourne Town Centre and up to the Wish Tower Slopes for speakers and a picnic. Following last year's success, let's make this year even bigger! Assemble on the grass outside the NUT office on Hyde Gardens for an 11.00am start, If your union branch has a banner (or flags etc. but please no balloons) bring it along! Speakers will include Eastbourne People's Assembly, East Sussex Save the NHS, Bourne Out LGBT and a striker from the current teachers' dispute.
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 Trades Council is proudly supporting the establishment of an Eastbourne People's Assembly, which will be launched on Saturday 19th September. Affiliates to the People's Assembly nationally include Unite the Union, Unison, NUT, ASLEF, TSSA, UCU, the Fire Brigades Union and the South East Region of the TUC.
There have been swingeing cutbacks in public services and local
government expenditures during the last 5 years because of economic and social
policies implemented by central government, which justifies such policies as
being the 'austerity' necessary to ensure future 'prosperity'. These cutbacks
have affected the people of Eastbourne in many ways, such as increasing
poverty, homelessness, and reducing access to essential health and social
services.
Mirroring the establishment of a national People’s Assembly that
campaigns against austerity, a group of Eastbourne activists is creating a
local organisation, the Eastbourne People’s Assembly against Austerity. This
new local group will raise awareness about the impact of austerity, campaign
against it both locally and nationally, and promote the alternatives to
austerity that would protect or restore our vital local services.
The Eastbourne People's Assembly will be launched on Saturday 19th
September at Our Lady of Ransom Church Hall in Grange Road, Eastbourne and is
expected to attract participants from a wide range of community, faith,
campaign and trade union groups as well as individual activists. Doors open at
6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.
The launch will commence with keynote speeches by, amongst others,
Mark Steel - comedian and columnist for The Independent newspaper - and national
People's Assembly secretary and co-ordinator, Sam Fairbairn. The
main focus of the evening will be sharing ideas and suggestions about how to
build up the Eastbourne People's Assembly and how to develop the campaign
against austerity locally.
Anyone interested in attending the launch please book
your free ticket on Eventbrite by clicking here.
