Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council
Delegate Minutes Thursday 17th September 2026
online
Present: (delegates in bold): Karin Dannehl, Metka Potocnik, Keiran Bott UCU University of Wolverhampton; Nick Kelleher, Robert Lipke UNITE WM/6150; Marie Taylor UNITE LE/372; Ali Rahimi UNITE WM/5115; Graham Childs CWU; Jacqui Coogan UNITE
Apologies: Thomas Mohan UNITE WM6150, Si Goode ASLEF; Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire; Jane Ceresa City of Wolverhampton UNISON; warinder juss
- Minutes of last Delegate Meeting (July) agreed; Matters Arising – links supplied by speaker at last meeting about Venezuala. EDM on Venezuelan gold held by bank of England, yet UK paid Iran for old arms deal.
- EC report
a) speaker for October?Nov invite Warinder Juss to update on new government
b) Sunday 4 Oct Midlands TUC Unity against racism important march and rally, Trade unions to lead march – take banner
c) film show – ‘The Man With The Plan’ Thursday 26 Nov with Townsend Theatre and Midlands TUC posters and flyers arrived, NK to send out Book your free advance tickets here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wolverhampton-screening-of-the-man-with-the-plan-tickets-1996007892337
d) Iran Today (CODIR) magazines 10 copies available
e) Black Country & Enslavement research project – Fri 9 October stall at UNITE Black history month event. MV to collect for libraries in Staffordshire. Also to be taken to Archives.
f) Made in Dagenham – the musical 29 Sept – 3 Oct Lichfield https://wolvestuc.org.uk/made-in-dagenham-the-musical/
g) WB&DTUC accounts audit awaiting from AT
h) Employment Rights leaflets. NK to contact LP
i) TUC General council report 2026 https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/general-council-report-2026 - delegate reports:
a) ASLEF from Si Goode: ballot for industrial action following the failure of AWC Management to table an acceptable pay deal returned with 82% yes vote on a 79% turnout. The membership, a lot of whom experienced industrial action for the first time during the 2 year dispute under a Tory government, and for whom it was still fresh in their minds who never the less heeded the call to give us the mandate to get AWC back around the table, further negotiations took place with a successful conclusion – the pay deal saw a 3.6% increase to base salaries, huge improvements to remuneration for working on a Sunday, a new 3 year rest day working agreement with improved remuneration for each year and a commitment from DCC to engage in working groups, to address the following, the introduction of tablet technology and Sundays becoming part of the working week.
b) UCU – Karin, due to be made redundant after 33 years, reported several organisational changes are likely to result in future students not being attracted. No change over summer, talks start next week. Offer of press release from Trades Council so that staff are not targetted.
c) UNITE – Sharon Graham re-elected as General Secretary with 2:1 majority on 10% turnout. Birmingham bin strike. Talks ongoing with new council leaders. The pre-election agreement was stated as “not far off” being agreed to be put to members. - Midlands TUC Regional Council report by NK:
This is held 2 or 3 times a year for all Midland TUC Regional council delegates; the Executive meets in between.
ERA updates are being sent out.
Anti far right work Network established involving trade unions, community groups and Stand up to racism. Big demo planned 4th of October. Trade union Bloc will lead a march in Birmingham
Midlands TUC was invited by Reform to attend their conference in Birmingham. Midlands TUC had an advert van and put projections on buildings about crypto donations. They also joined a large protest against Reform-uk.
Trade union education. For the West Midlands, it seems secure. with combined authority support. Big problems with the East Midlands regarding funding.
Public services. Events organised regarding insourcing support.
Events and campaigns. Working with unions in Warwickshire against reform attacks on LGBT books in libraries.
Working with MU and Equity to get trade union rates and a cultural manifesto with the West Midlands Combined Authority.
October 7th. TUC Pensioners Network has an event about adult social care.
18th February TUC event regarding freelance and self-employed, particularly cultural workers.
Lots of East Midlands industrial action reports but less attendance from West Midlands and no reports. - Secretary report circulated listing local events
- Wolverhampton Palestine Solidarity Campaign national demo 10 October with local transport. Lobby of WM Pensions Fund Committee 30 September 10am. There is a vacancy of trade union observer for UNITE.
- any other business Metka mentioned 16 days of activism campaign around ending violence against women and girls 25 November – 10 December, hoping to get university to be lit orange. Civic centre mentioned.
- @8pm discussion of this week’s 158th TUC Congress and outcome of the motion Trades Councils’ participation within the Trades Union Congress – NK gave report, motion was remitted, else would have lost again as UNISON and NASUWT did not support. Report on https://wolvestuc.org.uk/trades-councils-participation-within-the-trades-union-congress/