December 2004

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC December 2004 Secretary’s Report www.wolvestuc.org.uk wolves.tuc@unisonfree.net

next delegate meetings: Thurs 16th Dec AGM 20th Jan 05 Next EC Thurs 13th Jan

• Sat. 20th Nov demo, Lambeth – themes anti racism and for the reinstatement of a shop steward who won his job back at tribunal, Movement For Justice

• Black Country Unite Against Fascism campaign against the BNP in Sandwell — the Old Warley ward by-election in Sandwell – Labour 1,087 (42%), Con 778 (30%), BNP 410 (16%), Lib Dem 293 (11%)

• Save Jaguar campaign – TGWU and Amicus have announced plans for a major march and rally in Coventry place on November 27th to demand the retention of Jaguar car production at the historic Browns Lane plant.

• Wolverhampton Unemployment “Claimant Count” Aug 2004 (latest figures) decreased by 11 to 6,103. The current rate of Borough unemployment 6%; in the West Midlands County 5.6%; nationally 2.3%. Claimant count figures are no longer available for electoral ward boundaries.

Some branches have still not registered THIS year.
TU branches affiliated for 2004:
Amicus Bilston, Amicus 13/D Craft, Amicus 0758, ASLEF
CWU (W.Mids&Worcs.), CYWU FBU,
GMB (B’ham General), GPMU ISTC (Hall Palm),
NASUWT, NATFHE (University), NULMW, NUT
TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836
UNISON General, UNISON Primary Care Trust (13,238 affiliated trade unionists)
Affiliation forms are now being sent out to branch secretaries.
Please raise re-affiliation at your branch meetings.