Tuesday 9 February 2010
7.30pm-9.30pm
Hanover Room, Brighthelm Centre
North Road (corner of Queens Rd),5 mins from Brighton Station
Politicians, economic “experts” and the media are continually announcing the end of the recession.
With top bankers receiving record bonuses again, it may be over for a few. But for the rest of us the threat of unemployment and public service cuts is still growing.
Brighton and Hove Unison and Brighton and Hove District Trades Council have recently held large meetings to give a voice to trade unionists and others resisting the effects of a recession we played no part in creating.
Council City clean staff spoke of their success against the pay cutting council, alongside postal workers and Lloyds bank call centre staff.
Our next meeting will include:
* local RMT member, who’s union is seriously considering balloting for strike action to stop Network Rail axeing 1500 track maintenance jobs
* Sussex University UCU, members currently balloting for strike action against 115 job losses.
* A local Unite organiser and factory steward from Edwards, who are closing factories in Shoreham and Burgess Hill with 220 jobs threatened.
* FBU reps from Preston Circus Fire Station, who are trying to stop management moving their station to a less suitable location
There will be plenty of time for others involved in local or national disputes, including job centre staff, Argus journalists and strikers from IT firm Fujitsu, to share their experiences. We will also be discussing what we can all do to help each group, how we can link the struggles together, and what we can all do to prepare for the even bigger attacks on us all after the election. There will be space for informal networking after the meeting.
Organised by Brighton and Hove Trades Council and Brighton and Hove Unison
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Meeting Dates
Meetings take place on the second Wednesday of the month
We alternate between executive committee meetings and full trades council meetings. All delegates are encouraged to attend full meetings and any trade union member may attend as a visitor.
Email BrightonTradesCouncil@gmail.com to be informed of meeting dates and times.
How to get involved
Contact: In the first instance contact the General Secretary Andy Richards at brightontradescouncil@gmail.com
Trades union councils consist of representatives of trade unions or branches of trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area. A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades unions council in the area in which it meets.
Trades union councils consist of representatives of trade unions or branches of trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area. A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades unions council in the area in which it meets.
Who are we and what do we do?
Trades union councils bring together trade unions to campaign around issues effecting working people in their workplaces and local communities.
Trades Union Councils consist of trade unions or branches of
Trades Union Councils consist of trade unions or branches of
trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area.
A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades union council in the area in which it meets. Each branch will then send delegates to the trades union council's meetings. These branches pay an affiliation fee. Their delegates elect officers from amongst themselves to represent the views and priorities of the constituent branches and to take responsibility for working for and supporting the policy of Congress and the Trades Union Council (TUC) General Council. This is because trades union councils are registered with the TUC, rather than being entirely independent bodies. The Annual Conference of Trades Union Councils takes place over a May weekend.
Brighton Hove & District Trades Council was first formed in the function room above The Eagle pub in Gloucester Road, Brighton in 1890.
Aims and objectives
> Raise public awareness of rights at work and the union role in enforcing those rights.
> Promote organising and recruitment drives to build union membership.
> Support union and community campaigns for dignity and respect in the workplace and beyond.
With the threats of racism and fascism, changes in the labour market and debates over the future of public services, the trade union voice in the community is as important as ever.
The capacity of trades union councils to provide a local response and to organise trade unionists into coalitions with other progressive forces is crucial. They do this by providing services which keep local trade unionists up to date with developments within the wider trade union movement, and by taking up relevant local industrial and community issues.