The local trade union movement is organising a campaign against the rising tide of actual and threatened job cuts. Somehow, despite the hype, Brighton and Hove does not feel that "well-placed to come out of the recession" to quote that rather complacent report which was mentioned in the Argus this week.
Everyone should support both the public meeting and the march detailed below -
LOCAL WORKERS SPEAK OUT.
STRIKING FOR JOBS
TUESDAY 9th FEBRUARY,7.30pm,
BRIGHTHELM CENTRE
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. Last year we gave a platform to GMB members at Hollingbury bin depot, who described how strike action forced Brighton & Hove council to withdraw a pay cut. Unite members at Lloyds Bank spoke out about 415 jobs threatened at one Brighton office.
Our next meeting will give a platform to RMT and UCU members currently balloting for strike action against job losses at Network Rail track maintainence and Sussex University. They will be joined by representatives from Unite, speaking about the campaign to save over 200 jobs at BOC Edwards in Shoreham, and 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 too.
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 alll after the election. There will be space for informal networking after the meeting.
SPEAKERS
Unite,
BOC Edwards
UCU,Sussex University
RMT,Network Rail
FBU,Preston Circus Fire Station
Organised by Brighton and Hove Trades Council and Brighton and Hove Unison
Supported by Brighton Workers Solidarity Group
http://brightontradescouncil.blogspot.com/
http://defendsussex.wordpress.com/
www.savebrightonfirestation.com/
March for jobs! Brighton Trades Council Press Release
Trade union activists and campaigners have come together to organise a demonstration in Brighton as a call to action to fight back against the unjustified job losses taking place across the city and the country.
Delegates and organisers at a meeting held by Brighton, Hove and District Trades Council are urging trade union branches, students, the unemployed, workers and their families to take part in this important demonstration which will take place on Saturday 6 March.
Assembling at The Level at 12 midday, the demonstration will march past significant workplaces and sites in the city effected by the current threat of job losses ending at Brighton town hall where a rally will be held to put forward demands to defend all jobs and prevent any public service cuts as part of a fight back campaign against these unjustified attacks on working people.
Across Brighton & Hove working people are being threatened with thousands of job losses as workplaces close down. The devastating news of 220 redundancies at manufacturing firm Edwards last week adds to the job purge currently taking place against workers.
Track maintenance crews organised in the RMT union will be balloting for strike action over 1,500 job losses on the railways. If these job cuts go ahead safety will be severely threatened for both workers and travellers with already overstretched services.
Hundreds of jobs at Borders and Threshers in Brighton have already gone, more than 600 redundancies have been announced across two Lloyds sites, Brighton & Hove City Council wants to shed 150 workers and Sussex University plan to axe nearly 200 jobs.
Brighton, Hove and District Trades Council general secretary Bill North said: “Billions of pounds are being handed out to bankers and chief executives of companies technically owned by the taxpayer at a time when more and more people are being thrown out of work with nothing being done to protect these jobs. This completely distorted and unjustified situation cannot continue any longer.
“In the Brighton area hundreds of working people are being threatened with a worsening situation as job losses mount up.
“However, time and time again it has been shown that strong, organised trade unions can and do make a positive difference, defending jobs and conditions when they are under threat.
"If you’re not in a trade union - join one. If you are - get active.
“There is huge anger at the alarming lack of protection for workers at the same time bllions in bonuses are dished out to the rich and this demonstration will give people the opportunity to make a stand and will send out a clear message to bosses and the government: we will not pay for your crisis.”
ENDS
CONTACT DETAILS:
Brighton, Hove & District Trades Council
Acting press officer: Peter Knight
07788 744120
brightontradescouncil@gmail.com
brightontradescouncil.blogspot.com
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