Southend Trades Union Council

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Monday 28 March 2011

All Together for the NHS 1st April

Join this lunchtime publicity stall, 12-2pm on Friday 1st April.  Meet under the railway bridge in Southend High Street.

Southend Against The Cuts has organised this event in support of a campaign backed by the TUC to defend the NHS against cuts and privatisation.

Tuesday 22 March 2011

UCU Strike - Thursday 24th March

UCU has successfully balloted its members on strike action over pay and pensions in the Further and Higher education sectors, a national day of strike action in relation to this campaign has been called for Thursday 24th March.

On a local level this is a significant strike action, South East Essex College (now South Essex College) did not recognise trade unions for over 15 years and staff at the college only regained union recognition at the end of 2009, this will be the first strike action in the modern history of the branch. On a national level this strike is also significant because it is the first wave of action over the proposed reforms to public sector pensions which this government is forcing upon ordinary working people.

The 24th March will see almost all members of UCU on strike for the first time in the unions history. The main thrust of the dispute is over pension reforms which have been brought about by the government’s austerity agenda, which have no real basis in financial sense as the pension schemes for both older universities (USS) and newer universities and colleges (TPS) are both healthy and decreasing in cost.

There will be pickets from 0730 at the Luker Road site and all supporters are welcome to join us. We will be running a ‘teach out for the alternative’ at the Railway pub from 1300 on afternoon of the 24th March and would welcome anyone along to this.
FIGHT THE CUTS
Public Meeting 31st March
No to privatisation - defend our public services
Thursday 31st March 
St George’s Suite, Basildon Centre (Council Office) St Martin’s Square, Basildon SS14 1DL

Speakers  include - Nick Bradley Regional organiser for Unison in health services
Rachel Heemskerk  - Secretary of PCS union in Dept for Work and Pension

This meeting is to launch a local community and trade union campaign against cuts in public services. It has been organised by Basildon Unison branch with the support of PCS, Unison health branch and Essex County Council Unison branches.

Saturday 5 March 2011

RMT secures major court victory (4.3.2011)

RMT secures major court victory on right to strike paving the way for millions to take action over cuts to jobs and services
 
TRANSPORT UNION RMT this morning secured a major victory in the Court of Appeal over UK strike laws that will pave the way for millions to take action over cuts to jobs and services in the months ahead.
 
RMT had appealed an injunction granted in the High Court in January preventing a 48 hour strike on Docklands Light Railway. This morning that injunction - which would have taken the anti-trade union laws in this country to within a whisker of effectively banning the right to strike - was overturned in the Court of Appeal.
 
This morning’s judgment has massive implications for ongoing disputes, including on Arriva Trains Wales and London Underground, and clears a path for unions in all sectors planning ballots over jobs, pensions and cuts to living standards.
 
RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said:
 
“This morning’s judgment is not only a victory for staff on Serco Docklands and RMT’s 80,000 members but it is also a massive victory for the seven million trade unionists in the UK.
 
“The Serco Docklands injunction on balloting process would have taken the anti-union laws in this country to within a whisker of effectively banning the right to strike if it had been allowed to stand and would have tightened the noose around the necks of nurses, firefighters, ambulance crew, home helps and others engaged in fighting back to the point of strangulation. This victory today helps clear the path for those workers to take action.
 
“This landmark victory for working people in this country could not have been secured without the sterling work of Richard Arthur and Doug Christie from Thompson’s solicitors and the advocacy of RMT’s standing counsel John Hendy QC. The result also means that the best part of £100,000 in RMT’s legal costs will be paid back to the union.
 
“We said on the steps of the High Court last year after the Network Rail case that it was round one to the employers. Well, this is round two to the trade unions and the millions who count on us to defend their jobs, pensions and workplace rights.”