A message from Sam Buckley, victimised PCS rep at Hastings CSA via SERTUC...
Demonstrate Hastings Pier, 1pm Saturday September 18
Dear colleagues
Most of you already know that PCS Branch Secretary at CSA Hastings, Sam Buckley has recently become the fifth branch officer to be sacked on trumped up charges since November 2007 and that several more reps are under threat as we speak. The national union regards this as deliberate union busting and is fully behind the campaign's demands for reinstatement, an end to bullying of staff and reps and a DWP Select Committee enquiry into management at CSA Hastings.
CSA Hastings has become known as "The Bermuda Triangle of the Civil Service" owing to the way that those who stand up to management disappear - so far the Branch has lost a Chair, two Vice Chairs, two Branch Secretaries and a Treasurer (although the Treasurer, Winston Resalsingh, was reinstated in the teeth of stated opposition from Area management and South East HR) This is in stark contrast to how management treat BNP members -local neo-Nazi Frank Swaine has twice been given permission to stand for the BNP in locasl elections, despite Civil Service policy which obliges us all to promote diversity in the communities in which we live and work. Union reps handing out anti-BNP leaflets, by contrast were threatened with disciplinary action and full time union officials thrown off the site by security.
I am writing to let you know that a demonstration in support of these demands has been called backed by National and regional PCS and Hastings and District Trades Council which will assemble at 1pm at Hastings Pier before moving off along the seafront at 1.30pm and marching to the town centre where a rally with speakers will be held.
We are asking that you help publicise this demonstration and the campaign - management are clearly rattled but also eager to consolidate their "victory" as their first move has been to ban the local branch from issuing any leaflets to the members on the subject including outside the building and in their own time. National PCS has pointed out to them that this is both unreasonable and unlawful and has been ignored.
Please let your union branches and political organisations (if any) know about this and please urge them to inform their members. We would be happy to provide speakers to your meetings (although it would help immensely if you could pay the fare) For details about the dismissals, bullying and harrassment in Hastings, messages of solidarity, to become an official sponsor of the march, queries, donations etc please contact Branch Secretary Sam Buckley via swpsam@hotmail.com.
Yours fraternally, Sam Buckley, on behalf of CSA Hastings PCS
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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.