Hastings Demands Better
26 May: TUC ‘Hastings Demands Better’ cost of living meeting
The TUC has organised a mobilising meeting in Hastings ahead of the national cost-of-living demonstration in June. Bringing together union leaders, workers and community activists affected by the cost of living crisis, the rally is in Hastings on 26 May at 7pm, under the banner ‘Hastings Demands Better’. Elly Gibson writes.
The meeting in Hastings, 26 May, will be held on the Ground Floor at East Sussex College, Hastings Station Plaza Campus, Station Approach, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1BA. It will start at 19.00 and end at 20.30.
Local and national workers will tell their cost-of-living stories, and explain how they are fighting back. Keynote speaker and general secretary of the Communication Workers Union, Dave Ward, will call for a ‘new deal for working people’, and on ministers to respond urgently to the crisis facing workers and families – including an Emergency Budget and a windfall tax on energy companies.
The meeting is one of 15 events taking place across the country ahead of the TUC’s national ‘We Demand Better’ demonstration in London on 18 June.
The TUC published some research based on polling on the day of local elections that found: 76% of voters in the south east thought the cost of living crisis was the most important issue. And 76% of voters thought the government is not doing enough.
The TUC is calling on workers and communities to join the movement on its national demonstration to ‘demand better’ for working people.
Hastings Demands Better Photo Sarah Crosby
On 18 June, the TUC is holding a national march and rally in London for working people and their supporters to demand real pay rise for every worker – and a real living wage for all. The march will assemble at Portland Place at 10.30am and depart at midday, culminating in a rally.
The 18 June demonstration will demand:
A real pay rise for every worker – and a real living wage for all
Respect and security for all workers – ban zero hours contracts, ban fire and rehire, decent sick pay now
End racism at work
Tax energy profits to pay our bills
Raise universal credit
Boost union bargaining rights now
TUC Regional Secretary for the Southeast Sam Gurney said: “Hastings is a great place with great people, but it was already one of the most deprived towns in England. On top of that, working people in Hastings are now facing the biggest fall in living standards in generations. Everything is going up except real pay.
“We’re bringing unions, local workers, and community activists together to say enough is enough. The government must do more to help working people have a decent standard of living.
There is a coach organised from Hastings to enable people to join the TUC’s march and rally. To book a place on this coach contact HastingsTUC@outlook.com.
“Now is the time for workers to come together to demand better.”
Hastings Demands Better
On the TUC’s We Demand Better demonstration on 18 June, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“People shouldn’t be struggling to cover the basics. But millions of families have been pushed to breaking point by spiralling bills and soaring inflation.
“We demand better. It’s time for a new deal for working people. We need help with energy bills and a real pay rise for every worker.
“We need to make our voices heard. Join us on 18 June in London to tell ministers they cannot ignore the crisis facing families.”
The mobilising meeting in Hastings is being organised with the support of Hastings and District Trades Union Council.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. They bring together the 5.5 million working people who make up their 48 member unions, supporting unions to grow and thrive. They stand up for everyone who works for a living.
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