News

Thusday 28th July celebrated the 60th anniversary of the UN Refugee Council. It was 60 years ago on Thursday that delegates from 26 countries, including the United Kingdom, gathered in Geneva to sign 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. It was created to protect European refugees after the horrors of the Second World War. 60 years later, the Convention still serves as a beacon of protection. It has saved the lives of millions of people around the world; and while war, persecution and human rights abuses still exist, the Convention will continue to save millions more. The 1951 UN Refugee Convention is the cornerstone of 60 years of the Refugee Council’s untiring work to support and protect people who flee to the UK in search of safety. Today, we continue to speak out for the right to asylum and to ensure that a safe haven will always be there for those who need it. Find out more by visiting the UK Refugee Council

The Lewes and District Trades Council has decided to offer its support to Lewes Climate Concern.This is a year long campaign started by Lewes people with the aim of helping everyone to realise that climate change is real and that all of us can do something about it. Keep an eye on the Campaign website: www.lcc-campaign.org.

"Unity Is Strength". For all Trades Unionists - support coordinated action to defend pensions.
Following the coordinated action by four public sector Unions on June 30th 2011 Brighton, Hove & District Trades Union Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the position that the next step in the campaign to defend pensions should be coordinated action by all public sector Unions, in the form of a one day public sector strike. It's our experience that the majority of TU members in the workplace take the same view, and that there would be massive support for such action. (Those of us who took strike action on the 30th also witnessed overwhelming support from "the general public" - a group that includes a large number of TU members and supporters.) Trade Council has agreed to support the lobby of the TUC called by the National Shop Stewards Network (details included), but we also recognise that many TU members will want to raise the issue directly through their own Union structures. We therefore agreed to produce the attached material, for use by TU members who want to campaign for their own Unions to take part in coordinated strike action. We hope that you agree with the need for coordinated action, and that you will use the material to urge the leadership of the TUC and your own TU to "name the day". Attachments and suggested action points: 1. Model resolution - to raise at branch, branch committee, shop stewards' meetings etc. Where possible have branch and workplace meetings to discuss co-ordinated action and ask a speaker from one of the unions striking on June 30th to address it. (Local NUT, PCS, UCU speakers can be contacted via Trades Council.) 2. Petition - to discuss co-ordinated action in the workplace and show the TUC the support for it. 3. Details of NSSN loby of TUC, Sept 11th. 4. Details of demonstration outside the Tory conferences on 2nd October. Contact BrightonTradesCouncil@gmail.com for more information, details of transport to demos from Brighton, speakers, SUPPORT MATERIALS etc. We'll be sending out more information on affiliating to Trades Council, and how your Branch can get involved (or more involved) soon.