December 2023

2023 minutes 0

Delegate Minutes 21st December 2023

@ Lych Gates, Qu Sq, W’ton. Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council

  1. Present (delegates in bold): Warinder Juss GMBx13; Nick Kelleher, Rob Marris, Thomas Mohan, John Mahon, Lee Cassell, Paul Fletcher UNITE WM/6150; Graham Childs CWU; Paulette Whyte, Simon Cardy, Bob Deacon UNISON City of Wolverhampton; Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire; Dick Scroop, Ali Rahimi Unite Community, Nigel Harkness, Si Goode, Sam Cooke ASLEF; Karin Dharnel, Kieren Bott UCU University; Marie Taylor UNITE LE/372; Di Weaver UNITE WM5203; Apologies Kay Cresswell-Green,John Watson. Keely Hodgkiss, John Oakley, Aiden Byrne, Penny Welch, Metka Patocnick, John Grant
  2. Minutes of last Delegate Meeting (November) agreed; Matters Arising – 5. Cycle Heritage trail – UCU delegate put I contact with Carol Hyatt and background links to manufacturers provided by NK.
  3. EC Report – decision on 27 January coach and our AGM venue needed
  1. Dec 21st quick meeting /business, maybe have reports too as social begins. Invited UNITE ArcelorMIttal strikers as guests of honour – food arrangements: Somosa/spring rolls Ali, Di providing baps/plates, nick mince pies. beer allowance for strikers – 2 drinks each
  2. AGM 18 Jan – Di has arranged for Mick Whelan to speak at in person meeting– seek use of UNITE/UNISON else try Lych Gates.
  3. Protect the Right to Strike: Coach to National march and rally agreed. Sat, January 27th Cheltenham – Apply for a TUC Development grant – working with UNISON Sandwell to co-sponsor
  4. Some officer nominations 2024 received and Wolverhampton TUC affiliations 2024 sent to branches. UCU University, UNITE WM6150 and FBU(Black Country North) have affiliated.
  5. UNITE Community requested help forEnergy leafleting in Jan – dates to be advised.
  6. Enslavement links project – Thurs 23 Nov zoom meeting only two attended. Another meeting to plan next steps Thursday 25 January 2024 at 7.15pm.
  7. Heart Unions Week 10 Feb W’ton market, 11 Bilston market, cards which we have plus a Right to Strike leaflet
  1. Reports, strike updates and discussion:
  1. ASLEF – 94% vote for continued strike action in latest ballot. Still no negotiations or evidence of Transport minister as government is making it a political strike. Avanti West Coast despite its poor service has had its license renewed. The Minimum Service Level laws will affect their strikes. They thanked delegates for the support and solidarity shown to them over the last year’s action. Labour Party has promised to repeal these laws within their first hundred days.
  2. GMB strikes at Amazon Coventry continue where 1200 are now GMB members. Strike at Sutton Coldfield too though only a small number of unio members there currently.
  3. UNISON – local government back pay being paid today at end of this year’s payclaim.
  4. UNITE – Four of the ArcelorMittal(Wolverhampton) strikers were present to thank their UNITE branch and the trades council for their support during their four-month strike campaign which ended last week when a 7% backdated payrise and another 5.9% rise from 1st Jan. was agreed, raising base rates by £3/hr with some bonuses consolidated.. Delegates congratulated them on their victorious campaign.
  5. Labour Party – there are no TU Liaison Officers currently since Di Weaver has been suspended by the LP. No date given by regional office for a W’ton (West) AGM, to appoint new officers, which was due last July,
  6. Secretary report and TUCJCC reports circulated. NK spoke to Sandwell TUC outgoing officers who want to hand it over, about relaunching it, MT assisting. George Hickman since been taken ill -delegates agreed a message of support and good health to George, a stalwart of the trade union movement.
  7. Bob Deacon and Simon Cardy reported on Wolverhampton Palestine Solidarity Campaign‘s planned Ceasefire protest 14 Dec which was no longer needed as LP cancelled Xmas party with David Lammy. Over a hundred attended their History of Palestine workshop, when 20 were expected. Jan 6th protest outside Tory office in Chapel Ash. 13 Jan national demo. Wolves TUC thanked for their continued support and logistical assistance over recent months at rallies.
  8. Meeting continued with buffet and social.