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.

Trades Council Meeting: Tuesday 22nd September

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 22nd September, 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 (July) and matters arising. 
4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer
5. Eastbourne Campaigns: Report from the People's Assembly launch, Eastbourne Welcomes Refugees and other local campaigning initiatives.
6. Keep Justice in Eastbourne: update on campaign to keep magistrates court open.
7. Update on East Sussex County Association of Trades Councils
8. Delegates to SERTUC Trades Councils Conference, 31st October. We can send 2 delegates who will have their travel fully funded.
9. Any other Campaigns: Colleagues invited to provide information on their Unions’ local and national campaigns, and any support that the Trades Council could give.
10. Autumn Newsletter- draft to be tabled for approval (or not !)
11. Any other business. The bar will be open afterwards !

Next Trades Council Meeting: 21st July

The next meeting of Eastbourne Trades Council will be on Tuesday 21st July, 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 (May) and matters arising.

4. Treasurer's Report- Gordon Dyer (Gordon has sent apologies due to the change of date. A written report will be available)

5. Campaigning over the Summer: Update on the TUC's campaigns, the development of the People's Assembly in Eastbourne, and other priorities for union campaigning over the summer.

6.  Update on East Sussex County Association of Trades Councils

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. Autumn Newsletter

9. Any other business.

The bar will be open afterwards !  This is likely to be a relatively short meeting, as there is no speaker.