April 2010

WB&DTUC Minutes 15th April 2010

1) Introductions to delegates & visitors, new & old; present : Sis Petford(UNITE), Kelsey(CWU), Burth(UNISON) Bro. Fraser, Kelleher & Deacon (UNISON Gen), Clarke & Bostock (POA), Grant (UCU), Cole (NUT), Millington (NUJ), Thomas (Community), Rahimi (UNITE), Woodstock (PCS)
apologies: Bro. Childs(CWU), Juss(GMB), Marris(UNITE 5/836), Sis Taylor(CYWU-Unite), Halfpenny(NUT), Ceresa(UNISON)

2) Minutes of March meeting – agreed. Matters arising: 4a) Bro. Cole wrote to Wolves FC seeking anti-fascist quote, no reply. 4d) update on Heath Town Asylum Team – being run down until end of contract in 2011. 6) council tips now shut 2 days per week and on short hours has resulted in increased fly tipping.

3) Executive Committee Report (8-4-10) & Correspondence of note:
1. Midlands TUC – nomination for observer to TUC Disability conference accepted Sis Kelsey – report at June delegate meeting
2. United Campaign to repeal anti-union laws agreed re-affiliation £35
3. TUC Women’s committee – no funding from TUC – funds sought White Ribbon Day this Sunday appeal to midlands unions only raised £50 so agreed £70 donation to cover remaining cost of balloon launch
4. Haldane Socialist lawyers affiliation £20 put to next delegate meeting
5. Shrops & Telford TUC poster for Shrewsbury24 demo July 3rd – INVITE AS SPEAKER MAY/JUNE
6. Rob Marris re use of counterfeit passports by Israel
7. TUC re Silver Badge discussed
Sent:
8. Invite to LP councillors for WMDay; Secretary to write to Tory Leader re half mast flags
9. Workers Beer Co. festival Glastonbury details of just 4 volunteers granted
10. Spent £74 & £54 on election leaflets £55 on printer toner
a) future TUC speakers? Stoke NUT re difficulties working with fascist governors

4) Reports: a) Secretary – discussion of: anti-Bnp election campaign – report from delegates at Dudley UAF protest against EDL.
4 council seats being contested East Park, Bilston N, Bushbury N and Tettenhall Wightwick plus NE constituency. Timetable drawn up – venues to be decided once literature received. Ask Methodist church to assist again. Postcards for East Park & Bilston N already designed and ordered.
May Day- £200 donation to May Day Committee agreed. Likely cost for event to be £2000. News release to be done, 3000 flyers distributed, 2000 still to deliver in Whitmore Reans. Extensive mailings.
Workers’ Memorial Day news release to be done, distribution of 2500 flyers complete
b) Treasurer –healthy balance reported.
c) UNISON – update against council cuts
d) other delegates' workplace reports: Community 4333 now known as Community 1700.
e) Pensioners’ report of Welfare State demo in London, coach provided by UNISON and attended by several delegates.

5) speakers: Sis Kelsey: White Ribbon Domestic Violence campaign – 125 black balloons were released before a Wolves home game. Stayed on pitch until players came on and had good announcement. Sis Kelsey & Dugmore involved.
Sis Kelsey: Women’s TUC conference report – Mary Davies had detailed the history of women’s struggle, highlighting the lack of women in trade union leaderships and Parliament, the continued pay gap; gains under Labour such as increased maternity pay, Equality Bill, minimum wage yet poor pensions. Women’s votes could prove very important in the fight against the far right. The call was to unite behind the Women’s Charter.
John Millington, NUJ Morning Star Chapel spoke on the future of the labour movement’s daily paper. Legacies from wills have been keeping the paper solvent. The ruling class has attempted to close the paper repeatedly over the last 80 years. Last year 6 new journalists taken on and paper size increased, bucking industry trend. Agreed to increase our shareholding in the PPPS by £100, the readers’ co-operative which owns the paper. Delegates were encouraged to take out individual shareholdings. AGM is in Birmingham Thurs 3rd June 7pm Carr’s Lane, admission by share card.

6) Any Other Business – none