Brighton, Hove & District Trades Union Council wholeheartedly condemns the action of the University of Sussex management in calling in police to attack a peaceful group of protesters on Wednesday 3 March.
We understand that around eight police van and six patrol cars were deployed onto the campus, together with dog squads, and that several students were injured by police officers and others were arrested or detained.
We believe that the tactics used by police were disproportionate and heavy-handed - indeed, they are reminiscent of the utterly discredited policing of the G20 protests last year.
Trades Council understands that the students were protesting against the proposed redundancies of over 100 staff as well the closing of services such as the Creche. This level of reduction in staffing would have huge consequences for the quality of education at the University. This was part of a national day of action against cuts to higher education provision across the country. At Sussex this is not the first demonstration by students against these proposals but the first in which the police have been used to break it up.
We note that University management authorised this violence against students on the same day that UCU union announced that its members at University of Sussex had just achieved the highest turnout in a ballot for industrial action in UCU history, voting overwhelmingly to take industrial action in defence of education and jobs. We cannot believe that this is a coincidence: this blatant attempt to intimidate trade union members and students is one of the most reactionary pieces of industrial relations that has ever come to our attention.
Yours
Brighton, Hove & District Trades Union Council
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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.
The next meeting of the Trades Council is on Wednesday 13th December 2023, 7.30pm, Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF
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.