Brighton and Hove Trades Union Council supports the picket of anti-Union firm Peninsula Business Services taking place tomorrow, Thursday 15 April, at 9.30am outside the Grand Hotel in Brighton.
Tomorrow Peninsula Business Services are holding a seminar, publicity for which asks: "Do you worry about... dismissing that trouble-maker?" ie, union activists. "Staff taking sick days and their SSP rights?" ie, how to avoid paying sick pay. "Not knowing the rights of your pregnant staff?" ie, how to avoid them. "Being threatened with discrimination?" ie, how to avoid discrimination claims rather than how to avoid discriminating.
Bill North, general secretary of Brighton Trades Council, said: "Peninsula defends the worst type of employer and employment practice, providing training on how to cut staff on the cheap, avoid pregnancy rights, beating discrimination claims and how to dismiss trade unionists and 'trouble makers.'
"This is an obvious attempt to provide employers with the means of undermining workers basic rights provided to them by law.
"Companies like Peninsula profit from finding loop holes in the very laws designed to protect workers. Trade unions exist in order to ensure employers meet these requirements, something Peninsula sees as a block on making profits.
"At a time when unemployment is at an all time high, when workers face attacks on their pay and conditions while fearing for their jobs, all caused by the bankers crisis, the last thing working people need are their employers finding new ways to abuse them."
Peninsula has a history of defending employer’s bad practices in tribunals and encouraging discrimination against trade unionists. We call on employers to condemn companies like Peninsula and the practices they advocate. More importantly, workers must organise and get involved in their local trade union to stand up to any attempts to undermine their rights.
For further information please contact Bill North on 01273 679189 or Tony Greenstein 07843 350343.
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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.