Thousands of teachers, civil servants, university workers and train drivers, alongside parents and families, attended demonstrations in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings today.
They took strike action over pay and funding for public services.
Brighton
The response to the strike call from the NEU, PCS, ASLEF and UCU exceeded the organisers expectations across the county.
Amidst the government’s crackdown on the rights of Trade Unions to take industrial action, the people of Sussex came out in incredible numbers to support striking workers and the right to strike itself.
Hastings
Phil Clarke NEU Vice-President and local secondary school teacher said:
“The huge turnout today shows the strength of feeling of our members and the support we have from parents and the public. The message to the government is very clear, the underfunding of public services and the cutting of our pay has to stop. They need to realise that if they don’t start negotiating with the trade unions in good faith we can and will take more action.”
Eastbourne
“The decision to strike isn’t one that any union member takes lightly. 300,000 Teachers are on strike today because they know that it is the only way that they can fight for the education sector and the children they teach. This is reflected locally by the strength of numbers on picket lines across Sussex.”
An estimated 5,000 people attended the demonstration in Brighton with over 1,000 more in Eastbourne and Hastings.
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