Southend TUC press release - N30

Press Release

From Southend Trades Union Council (Southend TUC)

- For immediate use –

Day of Action - 30^th November 2011

The Southend TUC is fully supporting the Day of Action for pensions justice called by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday 30^th November.

We express our full solidarity with striking trade union members and call upon the Government to enter into genuine negotiations to secure the future of the public sector pension schemes.

The Southend TUC, in conjunction with the campaigning group Southend Against The Cuts, have organised a rally for union members and supporters under title ‘Unit the Resistance’ at 11.00am in the Victoria Plaza Area outside the Odeon Cinema, Southend High Street. In addition there will be a march of union members to Victoria Plaza starting from the Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue at 10.45am.

Southend TUC President Rachel Heemskerk said

“The average pay of a civil servant is £22,850 about £2000 less than the private sector average. Nearly a quarter of all workers are being paid less than £7 an hour work in the public sector. Public sector pay has been frozen when inflation has soared to 5%. The effect of inflation and the proposed increase in pension contributions represent a major pay cut for public sector workers.”

Ian Pope, Southend TUC Secretary added

“The Government has sought to set public sector workers against their counterparts in the private sector on the issue of pension funding. Private sector pensions are one of the greatest scandals of our age. Only 40% of private sector workers are currently in an employer-sponsored pension scheme. The Government should not be seeking to drag down the pensions of public sector workers, but to raise those of private sector workers.”

November 30th - Local Picket Lines

There will be picket lines at the following workplaces on the Day of Action November 30th :-

Dencora Court, Tylers Avenue, Southend on Sea
Kingswood House, Baxter Avenue ,Southend on Sea
Rayleigh Jobcentre London Hill
Basildon Jobcentre The Gore
Basildon BDC Great Oaks House
HMRC, Alexander House, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea
Southend Hospital
Southend Civic Centre
South Essex College, Southend
Central Library Southend
Margaret Thatcher House Southend
Queensway House Southend
Southchurch House Southend
Avro, Southend
Viking Building, Southend
Chevoit House, Baxter Avenue, Southend

Please visit the nearest picket line to show your support!

TUC Day of Action - 30th November

A Defend Public Services/ Strike Rally will be held at 11am in the Plaza Area outside the Odeon Cinema, High Street Southend.

We will have speakers from PCS, UCU, UNISON, Southend Trades Council and Southend Against The Cuts. (NUTand ATL have been invited)

There maybe a short march from the Civic Centre Victoria Avenue leaving there at 10:45am!

The next Southend TUC meeting - 2.11.2011

NOTICE OF NEXT SOUTHEND TRADES UNION COUNCIL MEETING

Date :             Wednesday 2^nd November 2011

Time :             6.30pm

Venue :         Labour Party Office, 268 Sutton Road, Southend on Sea

AGENDA

1.         President's opening remarks

2.         Apologies for absence

3.         Minutes of last meeting held on 5^th October 2011& matters arising

4.         Campaigning activities:

·         Day of Action - 30^th November

·         Southend Against the Cuts

5.         Branch Reports

6.         Financial Report

7.         Correspondence

8.         Any other business

9.         Close of meeting - by 8.00pm

Yours fraternally

Ian Pope

Secretary

Public Meeting 6th October - Defend Public Services

Come along and hear the debate as millions of trades unionists prepare for mass industrial action in November over the issue of public sector pension reform,

Protest Vigil to save Our NHS – 5th September

This event has been called jointly by Southend Against The Cuts and Keep Our NHS Public.

Meet from 6pm on Monday 5th September outside Southend Hospital, Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff-on-Sea

This protest is part of a national campaign to stop the government’s Health and Social Care Bill from breaking up and privatising our National Health Service. This Bill goes back to Parliament on 7th Septmber  join our protest to help make sure politicians know we will defend our NHS!

Burston March & Rally - 4th September 2011

BURSTON STRIKE SCHOOL RALLY

The annual Burston Strike School Rally will be held on Sunday 4^th September. The march and rally commemorates the continuing struggle for trade union rights, working class education, democracy in the countryside and international solidarity. There will be speakers from the Labour Movement plus music and entertainment.

The Southend TUC has organised a coach to Burston, near Diss, Norfolk. The pick up points are White Horse 7.15 am, Queensway 7.25 am, Prince Avenue Tesco 7.35 am , to arrive at Burston by 10.30 am. The return journey from Burston will start at 4.30pm.

The cost is £5 per person with children travelling free.  This low price is thanks to subsidies from UNISON and PCS. Contact Rachel Heemskerk for tickets/information via e-mail on rachel.heemskerk@gmail.com

Burston Strike School – the Longest Strike in History

In 1^st April 1914 the pupils of Burston School marched in support of their two dismissed teachers, Tom and Kitty Higdon. The Higdons were closely associated with the Agricultural Workers’ Union which brought them into conflict with the squirachy and the Church of England which was responsible for the education of children in the countryside.

Association with the farm workers’ union and Tom’s election to the Parish Council as a Labour member had prompted the dismissals. The school children, 66 out of 72, had gone on strike. This was to be the first day of the longest strike in history.

The Strike School, the alternative to the CofE County School from where the Higdons had been sacked, was at first located in the blacksmith’s workshop and latterly in purpose built premises erected on Burston Village Green by Labour Movement subscription.

The Strike School continues to function until the beginning of the Second World War. Tom Higdon died on 17^th August 1939 and the school closed a few months later. Kitty, then in her seventies, was unable to carry on alone and the remaining pupils transferred to the County School. Kitty died on 24^th April 1946.

In 1949 the Strike School was registered as an educational charity. There are 4 trustees who, with the support of UNITE, manage the school and try to develop it as a museum, visitor centre, educational archive and village amenity.

Since 1984, an annual; rally has been held in Burston to commemorate the first rally held in 1914 and celebrate the struggles that took place in Burston in the first half of the 20^th century – celebration of a challenge to the old rural order that has yet to be completed, but continues to be inspired by the struggle that began in Burston.

As the current government pushes forward its policies of free schools and academies to reduce the democratic accountability of education services to the community, we should not forget the lessons from the struggle of Burston.