Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council
Annual General Meeting MINUTES
Thursday 15th January 2026 @ Unite Office; this meeting was hybrid
Introductions made by those present: (delegates in bold): Tom Mohan, Nick Kelleher, Robert Lipke, John Clark, Andy Taylor UNITE WM/6150; Marie Taylor UNITE LE/372; Metka Potocnik, Keiran Bott, Karin Dannehl UCU Wolverhampton University, Ali Rahimi UNITE WM/5115, Graham Childs CWU, Peter Kibblewhite UNITE WM/7132; Bob Deacon, Jane Ceresa, Simon Cardy City of Wolverhampton UNISON; Clare Dhillon LP TU Liaison officer, PCS; Sonia Wilkins, Harbinder Singh UNISON Wolverhampton Acute
Apologies were received from: Kay Cresswell-Green NEU, Si Goode ASLEF, Tim Martin MU, Sanjeev Basra, Neville Ward, Craig Radford, Dane Cross UNITE WM/7132, Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire, Rob Marris UNITE WM/6150. Nick Hart.
- Minute’s silence held for UNITE WM/6150 branch secretary and delegate, John Oakley. Also for Graham Dodd former delegate and secretary of Community union branch.
- Presidential Address by Marie Taylor – see https://wolvestuc.org.uk/wolverhampton-tuc-annual-report-2025-and-plan-for-2026/ and then further updates on US attack on Venezuela which killed over 100 and kidnapped President Maduro (Socialist President of largest oil reserve nation) and First Lady. Plus Iran regime’s killing of between 2 and 12,000 protesters in last week. Further US threats on Greenland and Canada.
- discussion of Annual Report & Plan for 2026 Secretary – Nick Kelleher https://wolvestuc.org.uk/wolverhampton-tuc-annual-report-2025-and-plan-for-2026/ (and also January supplementary report) Need new delegates to be elected by branches with vacancies
- draft 2025 annual accounts presented by secretary due to treasurer current unavailability due to operation. £4,652 income; £9,305 expenditure. Questions answered; to check if PSC and VSC affiliations were requested.. Still to be audited – take at February meeting.
- Minutes of 2025 Annual General Meeting agreed; no Matters Arising
- Election results:
a) Secretary Nick Kelleher UNITE WM6150
b) President Marie Taylor UNITE LE372
c) Vice-President Di Weaver UNITE WM5203
d) Treasurer Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire
e) Executive Committee Tom Mohan and Robert Lipke UNITE WM/6150
f) Auditor Adrian Turner UNISON City of Wolverhampton
g) delegate to Midlands TUC – Regional Council and to Executive Committee- Robert Lipke UNITE WM/6150;
h) Equalities Committee; seek further info
i) Women’s Committee; Sonia Wilkins UNISON Acute
j) TUCJCC nomination (national body of trades councils) Nick Kelleher UNITE WM/6150
k) Trades Union Council Annual Conference delegate (30/31 May 26, Leeds) Tom Mohan UNITE WM/6150 - delegate reports –
UCU City of Wolverhampton College on strike 14-16 January as part of national dispute, fair pay, manageable workloads, national bargaining and a New Deal for FE.
UCU University industrial action ballot failed to reach threshold. AI to be used for student support, will lead to more job cuts. University claims to pay be a Living Wage Employer, but usually only pays it for 1 month per year.
UNITE WM/7132 PK reported first tranche of garages to be franchised will be Coventry, Perry Barr and Walsall at the end of 2026, with Wolverhampton in 2027 and Birmingham in 2028
UNITE nationally paid out £65million generating over £400 million in benefits to members in last 3 years, busiest strike years in recent times. - Nick Kelleher spoke to the launch of our new book – When Workers Ruled Wolverhampton and Bilston; the General Strike of 1926 plus discussion. Books available from secretary.