• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
24 June, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home 999

Thousands strike over pensions in Brighton and Hove

by Frank le Duc
Thursday 30 Jun, 2011 at 11:53PM
A A
0

About 3,500 people took part in a protest in Brighton and Hove today against changes to public sector pensions.

Others picketed schools and other public buildings and went on strike.

A march and rally passed off peacefully although later four people were arrested in Brighton for public nuisance and aggravated trespass offences.

About 50 state sector schools, colleges and nurseries throughout Brighton, Hove and Portslade were forced to close – or just over two thirds of the total.

Teachers and lecturers were prominent among the public sector workers taking action.

They are angry that pension changes mean that they will have to pay more, work longer and receive less when they retire.

Some pupils and students joined the protest as did Simon Burgess, the former Labour leader of Brighton and Hove City Council.

He said: “I’m not a teacher but I value hugely what they and other public sector workers do.

Support

“They deserve our support. If this government gets away with this it will be our police, NHS and firefighters’ pensions next.

“Public sector workers did not cause the banking crisis. They should not be the ones left to pay for it in their retirement.”

Mr Burgess took part in the march from The Level to Hove Town Hall with colleagues from Hamilton Lodge Deaf School.

Brighton Pavilion Green MP Caroline Lucas said: “Public sector pensions are affordable.

“This is really about piling the UK’s debt burden on to the people who did the least to create it.

“I believe that fair pensions are worth fighting for, so I will be joining the picket lines in solidarity with my constituents.

“I regret the disruption caused by industrial action and think it must only be used in special circumstances and would urge trade unions to work hard to ensure support from the wider public.

“Yet when teachers are being expected to pay 50 per cent more in pension contributions, work longer and get less pension when they retire – and when negotiations are failing – targeted and considered action is clearly necessary.”

Extraordinary

Superintendent Steve Whitton from Sussex Police said: “We were glad that the earlier demonstration passed off peacefully and without protracted disruption, bearing in mind the extraordinary number of persons marching.

“I would also like to thank the organisers for their co-operation while the policing operation was being planned.”

Four people – three men and a woman – were arrested at about 3.30pm.

Superintendent Whitton said: “Some time after the large peaceful demonstration had taken place, a group of approximately 25 were responsible for an assault against staff in Churchill Square and disruption within Boots and Barclays Bank which prevented and obstructed staff and customers.

“This behaviour went beyond peaceful demonstrating and significantly infringed upon the rights of other members of the community who would expect us to act.

“We consider that this action was completely unrelated to the earlier demonstration and conducted by individuals who have little regard for the rights of others in the city.

Nationally up to 750,000 teachers, civil servants and other public sector workers went on strike over the pension changes planned by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government.

Among the organisations affected by the strikes were airports, the coastguard, courts, driving test centres, job centres and prisons.

Teachers from Hamilton Lodge Deaf School taking part in the pensions protest
ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Independent businesses finally evicted by Co-op

Drug dealing claims could cost Hove restaurant its drinks licence

Up to three libraries face being shelved

Brighton maternity deaths under review in national inquiry

Man held after late-night knifepoint mugging in Brighton

Man charged with rape

Condemned: 8 council blocks of flats face demolition

Council holds skateboarding session in square where skateboarding is banned

Thousands strike over pensions in Brighton and Hove

Date set for reopening of popular seafront paddling pool

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Memorable performance at ‘Loud Women’ event in Brighton

Memorable performance at ‘Loud Women’ event in Brighton

24 June 2025
Help Me Help B Fundraiser with Yumi & The Weather

Help Me Help B Fundraiser with Yumi & The Weather

23 June 2025
Are The Haunt my ‘New Addiction’?

Are The Haunt my ‘New Addiction’?

21 June 2025
Oh! Darling Delivers Variety

Oh! Darling Delivers Variety

21 June 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Sussex snatch crucial late wicket as day two ends at Durham

by Thomas Ridley - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
23 June 2025
0

Durham 249-5 (82.1 overs) Sussex 361 (106.5 overs) Durham trail Sussex by 112 runs with five first innings wickets remaining....

Simpson steers Sussex into strong position on day two v Hampshire

Coles hits ton as Sussex see out day one at Durham

by Thomas Ridley - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
22 June 2025
0

Sussex 322-9 (96 overs) A resilient unbeaten century from James Coles for Sussex defied an excellent bowling performance from Durham’s...

Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

by Frank le Duc
17 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have signed a 21-year-old Italy international to add to the Seagulls’ defensive options. Diego Coppola has...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks stay top of their group with T20 triumph at Glamorgan

by Blake Bint - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
14 June 2025
0

Glamorgan 172 (18.5 overs) Sussex 199-7 (20 overs) Sussex won by 27 runs. Sussex 4 points, Glamorgan 0 points. Sussex...

Load More
June 2011
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« May   Jul »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Homes evacuated as bomb disposal experts called in 24 June 2025
  • Child sex abuse claims in NHS units spark police investigation 23 June 2025
  • Man stabbed at railway station 22 June 2025
  • Planners approve £18m scheme for 36 homes on land next to hospital 21 June 2025
  • Sex attacker’s victim died days after court ordered retrial 19 June 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News