GMB union is to hold a protest in August over its ongoing dispute with Brighton housing contractor Mears.

The demonstration is to be held outside Brighton Racecourse on the 19th August from 11.30 onwards, GMB has announced.

GMB recently announced that members employed by the company are moving closer to a dispute over threats to impose unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment and to withdraw from agreement for the union to represent members.

Mears are sponsoring a race day and holding a corporate event at Brighton Racecourse on 19th August.


Mark Turner, GMB Branch Secretary, said "It would appear that there is a different approach to trade union relations between local and senior management in Mears. The company has not rescinded the formal notice of 30th July so the value of the statement by Mr Long the senior manager is not worth a lot until the notice is rescinded.

"GMB would welcome talks with management outside of the Brighton branch as we have little confidence in either their ability or fairness of the local team to settle this dispute. We have made it clear that those talks cannot take place whilst the union members face the threat union rights being removed. If and when that letter is rescinded we will happily sit down with a senior management team to discuss Mears adherence to the current agreement and the benefits that doing so can bring to both the company, unions and staff."

(CD/MH)