April 2026 minutes

2026 minutes 0

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council

Delegate Meeting MINUTES

Thursday 16th April 2026

Introductions made by those present: (delegates in bold): Thomas Mohan, Nick Kelleher, John Clark, Rob Marris UNITE WM/6150; Marie Taylor UNITE LE/372; Keiran Bott UCU Wolverhampton University; Ali Rahimi UNITE WM/5115, Graham Childs CWU; Dane Cross UNITE WM/7132; Kelly Newell, City of Wolverhampton UNISON; Kevin Dan; Jaydeep Jhamet (IWW)
Apologies were received from: Kay Cresswell-Green NEU, Si Goode ASLEF, Robert Lipke UNITE WM6150, Metka Potocnik UCU, Warinder Juss MP GMB-X10, Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire,

  1. Minutes of last Delegate Meeting (March) agreed with apologies from Karin Dannehl UCU. Matters Arising: BBC reports in week before election daily Reform-UK press release were covered. Complaints direct to BBC
  2. EC report correspondence of note
  1. 2026 affiliations to WB&DTUC: ASLEF; CWU, FBU, Musicians’ Union, UCU University UNISON Sandwell, UNISON Staffordshire, UNITE WM/5115, UNITE WM/7132, UNITE WM/6150, UNITE LE/372, UNISON City of Wolverhampton* (*still to pay). Not yet affiliated: RMT, NEU
  2. 1926 centenary – “The General Strike – A Revolution Betrayed?”, 70min film made in the early 1970s, was unearthed in the archive of award-winning Platform Films MV’s branch bought for screening with trades co at Gill’s as anniversary event – use our books. show online after
  3. letter sent to MPs re  ‘Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest’: reply from WJ
  4. Against far right: another counter protest 18 April, outnumbered and drowned out rag tag bunch of 45 far right.
  5. Workers’ Memorial Day leafleting – at railway station tbc with UNISON at Civic centre too.
  6. Workers’ Memorial Day stone – £2,350 raised with £1,080 left to raise. £2180 remaining balance paid to Wilkinsons
  7. May 1st Bouncy castle/supervisor – MT to check,food (IWA/Ali),5000 A5 flyers; Keep Fit with Wolves TUC1st May leafleting sessions meet at 10.30am @ Gill’s car park WV6 0QQ: Sat 18, Sun 19, Sat 25, Sun 26 April plus some weeknights 7pm; social media adverts – MT Love Reans page; stalls contacted; £1k to raise. EC recommends donation of £250 to May day committee; Set up 7pm Thurs 30 April at venue. Volunteers needed.
  8. Education unions round-table; MT preparing report with unions
  9. spent: Tr Co conf rail ticket booked for TM delegate £41.60; 50 2nd class stamps bought for WMD/May1st mailings £43.50; £15.19 postage; £2 parking; £12.60 oasisx2 WMD wreath; Workers’ Memorial Day 1,000 A5 flyers ordered £36.53
  1. amendments to motions to trades councils annual conference a) MOTION NUMBER: 3 Anti-racist work by the TUC After “policies.” in paragraph 2 add: “Conference welcomes the formation of Together Alliance which called a half million strong unity demonstration. Conference believes trade unions can play a key role in communities by supporting the growth of trades councils and assisting development of community organisations around progressive campaigns to tackle the cost of living crisis and erode support for the far-right. “ b) MOTION NUMBER 24 – delete at end “, one of whom must be the Treasurer”
  2. delegate reports:
    1. ASLEF – Si Goode Neal Cooper of Bletchley branch, a West Midlands Trains Company Council Representative and a regular attendee at our branch has been 

elected as the Executive Committee Member for District 6. He will take up the position for the remainder of the four year term of office, running until 31st December 2029.

*Retired Drivers reunion. Our annual Good Friday retirement get together was was well attended and guests included Dave Calfe General Secretary, Richard Fisher District Organise District 6 and our newly elected Executive Committee Member Neal Cooper. Various membership badges and retirement certificates were presented with the oldest surviving member Rumoured to be around 93.

*ASLEF was well represented in parliament on Monday 13th April that brought together labour MPs, Trade Unionists and LGBT+ stakeholders to celebrate the Trans Community and their contribution to the Labour movement. The day included a speech from our Women’s Committee Chair Deborah Reay.

*Avanti West Coast Drivers Company Council alongside our ASLEF Full Time Officer Kevin Lindsay will commence talks with the company on the 23rd April to discuss the 2026 pay award after a mandate was given by the DfT to open negotiations.

  1. UCU – more problems expected with further restructures at university and course reductions as international students drop. Universities becoming simply training centres for work
  2. UNITE Arcelormital -2 voluntary redundancies reported and cut to single shift, one further redundancy possible national Executive elections underway Buses pay talks underway, offer expected this week. New button installed on ticket machine for protection of women and girls but no training or explanation for use.
  3. Secretary report was circulated and brief TUCJCC report regarding national conference – Nick Kelleher
  4. any other business
  5. @8pm speaker: Niall Finn, Parliamentary Officer, Justice for Colombia based at ASLEF. Colombia has more trade unionists killed each year than any other country. Most unequal society in Latin America; 1% own 65%. US has strong links.

JFC was set up in 2002 by the British trade union movement to support Colombian civil society in its struggle for human rights, labour rights, peace and social justice, its Governing Committee is formed of trade union leaders from Ireland and Britain and meets regularly throughout the year.  All main unions are affiliated. The parliamentary group has 60 MPs.

Niall outlined recent history from 1960 when murders began by paramilitaries linked to state. Civilians were killed claiming increasing FARC and ELN guerilla kills. In pandemic, government was useless. Ceasefire, elections in 2026 elected left government and President. Political violence has dropped.

Agreed to affiliate to JFC..