December 2018

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council Delegate Meeting Minutes

Thursday 20th December 2018

 

Welcome & introductions to delegates & visitors + apologies

Nick Kelleher UNITE, M Foxall UNITE, Stuart Baker UNITE RO, Chris Pugh UNISON, Bob Simm PCS, J Ceresa UNISON, Rob Marris UNITE, Zahid Ali UNITE COMMUNITY, Tim Martin MU, Ali Rahimi UNITE, Graham Childs CWU, Sharon Dixon UNISON, Clare Simm PCS, Marie Taylor, Celia Hibbert UNITE, Sis Baker + 2 visitors.

Apologies. Greg Brackridge FBU, Bueno UNISON, Warrinder Juss GMB, Grant UCU, J Foxall

Minutes of November delegate Meeting & Matters Arising

Minutes Agreed, Stuart asked if Anne Marie Kilcline had agreed to attend and Nick stated no correspondence yet.

EC report and additional Correspondence Nick Kelleher

Future speaker invited new Unite reg sec Annmarie Kilcline for agm by email(Nov+Dec) + by post (Dec), awaiting reply. Suggestions Bro Juss on law updates; Sis Millar on her mining research; Roy Rickuss Community union Gen Sec(from Wolves); Refugee & Migrant Centre via Bro Simm; Council Budget; Palestine via Bro Deacon, not LP focus on anti-Semitism debate; Francisco Domingo Latin America. Stuart noted that it was speaker from RIFT who spoke at RISC meeting.

Forms for Trades Council registration 2019 and Observers to the 2019 TUC Equality Conferences. Delegates will be chosen at AGM.

Working Class Movement Library annual appeal EC RECOMMENDS £30. Meeting agreed.

Hazards 2019 appeal EC RECOMMENDS £50. Meeting Agreed.

Tinplate workers – plaque unveiling had previously been agreed with council but plaque already put up. Bro Brackenridge: ”After speaking with the leader, Roger will plan an event to mark the sacrifice of the five workers next year as it is the 200th anniversary, “ (which we had suggested).

Shrewsbury 24 campaign 2019 re-affiliation £25 EC RECOMMENDS plus £75 donation – judicial victory announced today, moving closer towards disclosure of documents. Meeting agreed Donation.

Banner Theatre offer of £500 booking of Spirit of 1868 show which celebrates the trade union movement’s continued fight for workers’ rights, and shines a light on some of the struggles, protests and moments of resistance that shaped our past and our present. Deadline for the application was 1 December. dates from March 2019 until the end of July. Length: 105 minutes (includes a 15 minute interval). Discussed possibilities of putting on free show in a park in summer; West park, Hickman park, Bantock Park possibilities. Possible grant for music in parks Tony and Nora Southall Trust. Contact Banner. Chris Pugh suggested the amphitheatre at Wednesfield and possibility of TUC grants was raised.

The Plan, Lucas Aerospace Film, which we sponsored (30 Minute Film) downloaded for meetings. Its about alternatives to military production. Will play at future TUC.

Period Poverty Leeds council debate. Rob Marris spoke about girls who have missed school due to lack of sanitary products. Meeting agreed to write to Wolverhampton council about similar project.

2019 Affiliation WB&DTUC EC Nominations from UNITE WM6150; Affiliation from UNISON City Wolverhampton; Affiliation & Donation from Musicians Union ( ASLEF & Community Craft already reaffiliated.) Delegates reminded to speak to branches.

Peoples Assembly Demo January 12^th London. Not aware of transport at this time, Chris will attend.

Councilor Roger Lawrence response re Uber Motion – copied to Allen Lewis UNITE and Taxi Drivers. Court of appeal agreed Uber Driversare workers not self employed, with access to minimum wage and paid holidays. Roger has asked other councils to reduce fees too and added that 50 new jobs have been created in the licensing department.

Heart Unions Week will take place between 11 and 17 of February. The specific focus for 2019 will be about highlighting the scourge of zero hour contracts and the need for unions to eradicate them from the workplace. Unsure how to proceed at this point.

Unison Homecare workers continue to be in dispute with Birmingham City council. Following 39 days of strike action over 15 month period the workers remain resolute in winning this increasingly bitter strike and have just released the latest ballot result, the third in this long running dispute and in response to the TU Act, with over 96% voting yes. Meeting agreed donation of £150.

Reports

Unison, Sharon Dixon. Emails have been sent out about jobshare, early retirement, reduced hours. Email was sent without Union consultation. The timing was worrying as it was sent at Christmas. Members have been encouraged to come to AGM and to speak to reps. Marie added that education unions are to be balloted over cuts and conditions.

Secretary’s Report, Nick Kelleher. Amazon protest- GMB. Wolverhampton TUC delegates joined the Rugeley protest led by GMB against conditions a t Amazon. Other events took place around the country on Friday, 23^rd November in support of workers being exploited and being put a t risk of serious injury by Amazon. Banners were there from FBU, Midlands Pensioners, Telford TUC and MP Emma Reynolds attended. There was a social afterwards held by GMB with speakers including MP Ruth Smeeth.

Wolverhampton Palestine Solidarity plans the following events see www.wolvestuc.org.uk

Saturday 19^th January 2019- Protest against the UK-Israel Arms Trade HSBC Bank, Queen Square 10am-12 noon

Friday 8^th February- Public meeting with Beverley Momenabadi, Labour Councillor, on her recent trip to the West Bank.

Zahid Ali added 11^th Dec 70^th anniversary of right to return, UN panel to express solidarity, oppose Trumps deal to give up rights with Netanyahu. Marie asked to inform Nick of any way they can help.

New folk ballad about Mary McArthur and the chainmakers is on April 9^th, 7:30 at Newhampton Arts Centre. The next annual Chainmakers Festival is Cradley Heath High Street on Saturday 6^th July 2019.

AOB

Stuart- Wolverhampton Homes Unison office being closed down which means their UCAAT banner needs re-homing and displaying. Marie suggested donating it to the Peoples History Museum in Manchester. Rob suggested placing it by the tin plate workers plaque on the day the unveiling event.