This public march in Chelmsford on Saturday 9th February is organised by campaign group Save Our Libraries Essex (SOLE). SOLE are asking for people to meet at 12 noon, Chelmsford High Street, outside of the Saracens Head Hotel.
Essex County Council is currently consulting residents on plans to close libraries across Essex while having other libraries run by volunteers. If this goes ahead one-third of libraries in Essex will close and many more will be under threat. Find out if your local branch library is under threat at: https://bit.ly/2FPYGOk
By downgrading or closing these 44 libraries, Essex County Council hopes to save an estimated £3 million pounds* which could easily be sourced from the £340.2 million† they have in reserves.
Libraries are an essential part of the community and need to be defended. With nearly half of library users being either under the age of 9 or over the age of 60 these closures will impact on the most vulnerable members of our society. It will mean the loss of local services that support parents and children. It will mean the loss of Internet services to the community. It will mean an increase in loneliness to those living in isolation.
This year’s Xmas Social was a great success with everyone enjoying the delicious buffet, drinks, quiz, raffle, entertainment and good company!
Additionally, we extended solidarity with the Birmingham Care Workers who have been in a 12 month dispute with their employer, Birmingham Council, who are insisting on making substantial cuts to essential care services.
March vanguard at the Unite Against Fascist Tommy Robinson counter demonstration on Sunday 9th December 2018. Photograph by Louise Raw
Thousands of people gathered outside BBC headquarters at Portland Place under the banner “NO TO TOMMY ROBINSON | NO TO FASCISM” before marching through central London, via Trafalgar Square to Whitehall.
We rallied to oppose the so-called “Brexit Betrayal” march led by racist Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) and UKIP leader Gerrard Batten. Robinson and Batten’s racist gang was easily outnumbered by around 3 to 1 and were consequently humiliated on London’s streets as they attempted to capitalise on the government’s Brexit crisis.
The message of our counter-demonstration was clear that both leavers and remainers alike will not stand for fascists attempting to profit from a crisis; and that we will not stop until the rise of the far-right, and the wave of hate crime that has accompanied it, has been defeated.
A broad coalition of groups mobilised for the counter-demonstration included Stand Up To Racism, Momentum, Muslim Association of Britain, Jewish Socialist Group, Brazilians Against Fascism, local Labour Parties as well as Trade Unions including UNISON, UCU, NEU, FBU, TSSA, PCS, CWU, NAPO, RMT and Unite who brought both banners and numbers.
Video Report
¡No pasarán! (They shall not pass) – Anti-racists at the Unite Against Fascist Tommy Robinson counter demonstration at Whitehall, London on Sunday 9th December 2018. Photograph by Jess Baines, UCU
SAVE THE DATE: On Saturday 16 March 2019, Stand Up To Racism will be back on the streets in big numbers again on UN Anti Racism Day, where internationally anti-racist movements are holding marches to say #NoRacismNoFascism. Given the growth of the far right, racism and fascist forces across Europe, the US and Brazil, this year’s march takes on an even greater urgency now.
The STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference in central London on Saturday 20th October brought together trade unionists, campaigners, parliamentarians, and faith and community leaders from across the UK, Europe and the US to help build a mass movement against the far right on our streets, in our workplaces, on our campuses and in our communities.
Around 1,400 people attended throughout the day – themes included combating racism, building solidarity with refugees, and defending migrants’ rights – with a resounding call for people to join the forthcoming National Unity Demonstration on Saturday 17th November.
If you’re a Southend UNISON member and would like to join the National Unity Demonstration on Saturday 17th November please contact the branch ASAP to book your coach seat.
If you know a non-UNISON member who would also like to attend this national demonstration please get them to contact us.
STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference in pictures.
Diane Abbott (Labour Party MP, Hackney North and Stoke Newington | Shadow Home Secretary) addressing attendees at STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference 2018.
Attendees at STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference 2018.
Attendees at STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference 2018.
John McDonnell (Labour Party MP, Hayes and Harlington | Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer) addressing attendees at STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference 2018.
Attendees at STAND UP TO RACISM International Conference 2018.
Guest speaker Josephine Melville (left) and Southend UNISON stall (right) at this year’s Black History Month event at Southend Borough Council.
Photographs by Louise McDermott (President, Southend UNISON)
Sam Adams (LGBT+ Support Officer) and guest speaker Josephine Melville (left) and Pekance Tani (Social Worker, SBC) and Pam Drever (Retired Members’ Officer) on Southend UNISON stall (right) at this year’s Black History Month event at Southend Borough Council.
Photographs by Kate Stafford (Local Organiser, UNISON Eastern)
Join us for an event to celebrate Black British History including speakers, refreshments, live jazz music and stalls from groups including UNISON Black Members.
WHERE: Southend Borough Council, First Floor Foyer, Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6ER WHEN: Tuesday 23rd October, 12:30 – 2:00pm
EVENT PROGRAMME
12:30 pm
Welcome by Niki Mistry
(Southend-on-Sea Borough Council BAME Forum Chair)
Speakers:
Emma Cooney
(Forum Sponsor and Director of Regeneration & Business Development)
Tim Roberts
(UNISON Eastern Region)
Ranjit Singh Rana
(Equality & Diversity Consultant) Equalities: Progress on Equality Law and the Future
Mike Meehan
(Community Engagement Worker – Dementia) The Impact of Dementia on Southend’s African/Caribbean Community
13:00 pm
Entertainment from jazz singer Dawnette Fessey – and a chance to chat and socialise!
EVERYONE WELCOME, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
Please supports the PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union) STOP THE SOUTHEND HMRC AND DWP CLOSURES campaign.
The government plans to close the Southend HMRC office in 2022 and Southend Benefit Service Centre by 2020. This will remove around 1,500 jobs from our community.
If these plans aren’t stopped the closures will:
Deny the local community access to important public services.
Significantly reduce the spending power of DWP and HMRC staff who live and shop in the area. PCS has estimated that £34 million per year will disappear from the local economy.
Lose essential, specialist VAT and customs knowledge in the run up to Brexit and beyond. Arguably at a time when this knowledge is most needed.
Axe around 1,500 good quality jobs from our community at a time when Southend’s unemployment rate is already higher than the national average.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT THE PCS CAMPAIGN
DOWNLOAD THE PETITION calling on Southend MPs to intervene to keep the offices open and get your workmates, friends and family to sign.
DROP OFF COMPLETED PETITIONS to Southend Jobcentre Plus in an envelope marked for the attention of Rachel Heemskerk (Branch Secretary, PCS DWP Essex), alternatively drop off at the UNISON Southend-on-Sea Branch Office.
On Saturday 21 July, UNISON members joined hundreds of people on the Southend Pride Parade – the culmination of a range of fantastic events throughout the week to celebrate the LGBT+ community.
The parade gathered at Royal Plaza and was opened by Southend Pride organiser, Dan Turpin, UNISON Southend-on-Sea Secretary, Claire Wormald, and the Mayor of Southend, Councillor Derek Jarvis.
After these speeches and a workout with Active Life everyone proudly marched up the High Street to the Festival in Warrior Square Gardens, and then on to an After Party at The Cliff Pub.
Southend Pride in pictures:
SAVE OUR NHS SOUTHEND on Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
TRANSPIRE members at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
UNISON members on Southend Pride Parade.
Claire Wormald (Secretary, UNISON Southend-on-Sea) addressing Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea. Mayor of Southend, Councillor Derek Jarvis, in the background.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Dan Turpin (Southend Pride Organiser) addressing Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea. Claire Wormald (Secretary, UNISON Southend-on-Sea) in the background.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
TRANSPIRE on Southend Pride Parade.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
UNISON members on Southend Pride Parade.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
UNISON stall at Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens.
Gina Denham (Founder and Chair, TRANSPIRE) (left) talking with Mayor and Mayoress of Southend, Derek and Valerie Jarvis.
UNISON members on Southend Pride Parade.
Southend Pride Parade at the Royal Plaza, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Parade along the High Street, Southend-on-Sea.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
TRANSPIRE on Southend Pride Parade.
Southend Pride Festival at Warrior Square Gardens, Southend-on-Sea.
On Friday 13 July, UNISON members joined hundreds of thousands of people who took to the streets in Southend-on-Sea, London and towns and cities across the country to stand up against Donald Trump’s visit and values – a dangerous man that represents bigotry, hatred, misogyny and racism – and threatens both our environment and international peace.
What we saw was a day of celebration, noise and action. A day of joy, love, solidarity and resistance as we stood together in celebration of the diverse communities which make up our great country.
TOGETHER WE SAID IT LOUD, SAID IT CLEAR: DONALD TRUMP’S NOT WELCOME HERE!
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and protestors at the SOUTHEND-ON-SEA AGAINST TRUMP march on Friday 13th July.
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA AGAINST TRUMP videos.
Claire Wormald (Secretary, UNISON Southend-on-Sea) talks about the importance of standing up against Donald Trump’s visit and values.
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and protestors at the SOUTHEND-ON-SEA AGAINST TRUMP march.
Protester Tony Groves talks about his own Baby Trump at the SOUTHEND-ON-SEA AGAINST TRUMP march.
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and Save Our Southend NHS campaigners at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and Save Southend NHS campaigners join the huge Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration on Saturday 30th June in London.
We stopped outside Downing Street demanding Theresa May’s resignation en route to a rally where we were greeted by the National Health Singers choir singing “the NHS needs saving, don’t let them break it”.
Claire Wormald (Secretary, UNISON Southend-on-Sea) addressing protestors at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Doctors, nurses, union leaders, actors and politicians including Jeremy Corbyn addressed around 40,000 people – demanding an end to government cuts and further privatisation of the health service, for staff to no longer be subcontracted to private companies and for social care to be properly funded.
Jeremy Corbyn (Leader of the Labour Party) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration in pictures.
Protest vanguard at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Dr Aislinn Macklin-Doherty (Secretary, Health Campaigns Together) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Helen O’Connor (GMB) addressing Our NHS is 70 rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Julie Hesmondhalgh (Actress and President, The People’s Assembly Against Austerity) with demonstrators at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and Save Our Southend NHS campaigners at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and Save Our Southend NHS campaigners at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Protest vanguard at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members at the ‘Our NHS is 70′ rally on Saturday 30th June.
Spoken word performance at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Jeremy Corbyn (Leader of the Labour Party) and musician at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Ralf Little (Actor) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Demonstrators at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
UNISON Southend-on-Sea members and Save Our Southend NHS campaigners at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Protest vanguard at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Dr Aislinn Macklin-Doherty (Secretary, Health Campaigns Together) addressing protestors at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Gordon McKay (Mental Health Nurse and UNISON National Executive Council President) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Demonstrators at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Julie Hesmondhalgh (Actress and President, The People’s Assembly Against Austerity) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Weyman Bennett (Joint National Convenor, Stand Up to Racism) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Dave Prentis (UNISON General Secretary) at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Dr Jeeves Wijesuriya (British Medical Association (BMA)) addressing Our NHS is 70 rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Rhoda Dakar performing at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Demonstrators at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Protest vanguard at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.
Rhoda Dakar’s musicians performing at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Frances O’Grady (General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC)) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
UNISON members at the ‘Our NHS is 70′ march on Saturday 30th June.
Jeremy Corbyn (Leader of the Labour Party) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Demonstrators at ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Jeremy Hunt (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care) IS WRECKING THE NHS!
Sally Lindsay (Actress) addressing ‘Our NHS is 70’ rally at Westminster, London. (30 June 2018)
Protest vanguard at the ‘Our NHS is 70 Celebration & Demonstration’ on Saturday 30th June.