February 2020

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council Delegate Meeting

MINUTES Thursday 20^th February 2020

 

Present: Sis Taylor UNITE CYW, Ceresa UNISON City, Francis NASUWT, D.Weaver UNITE WM5203, C.Simm PCS Bro Kelleher UNITE WM6150, Rahimi UNITE Community, Baker UNITE Sandwell, Childs CWU, Deacon UNISON City

Apologies: Sis Millar UCU University, J.Weaver UNISON City Bro Grant UCU, B.Simm PCS, Pugh UNISON City, Marris & Oakley UNITE WM6150, Juss GMB

1. Welcome & introductions to delegates & visitors. A minute’s silence was observed by those present in the memory of Councillor Pete Bilson and Andrew Moore both FBU members.

2. Minutes of last Delegate Meeting (Dec) & Matters Arising

3. EC Report – Report on Affiliations to us and actions by Executive to increase was presented.

   Correspondence of note:

1. Wodenstock Sun 19 July 2020 – local councillors have placed a bid to the ward community funds of £1000 to support the event. Agreement by councillors/Leader to remove fountain for stage area. Timescale unknown. Steve Woodward, Head Of Environmental Services will respond with details of landscaping plans with electric point etc. Need to build interest by branches and seek volunteers.

2. Workers’ Memorial day – organised and 1000 flyers ordered

3. Workers Beer Company paid Tolpuddle wages £646; sent £323 cheque to The People’s Press Printing Society – Morning Star, 90 Years Appeal

4. Costs of running our TUC

   participation in May day, mailings, printing annual report etc costs at least £500 annually

   that has spent our annual affiliation fees without our additional campaigning costs, speaker costs, affiliating, donating etc

   need to apply for TUC Development grants (we had two last year, total £600) and raise funds for individual campaigns eg Wodenstock by appeal to branches, sponsorship of WMDay etc

5. Discussion held on reduction of costs but any decision to reduce affiliations would need to look at all. Labour Research re-affiliation agreed £54; Working Class Movement Library agreed £25; public liability/volunteer insurance £228.04 paid Public Liability insurance, PO Box, website and bank account cost £720 annually

4. Elections for vacant positions

1. Midlands Annual Trades Council conference Saturday 16^th May at TUC Offices, 47 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3TH. Registration 10.30am – 2 delegates elected Sis Simm, Bro Kelleher, others can go as visitors

2. Trades Union Councils Conference 13-14 June Leicester – Bro Kelleher elected and nominated for WM rep for TUCJCC. Visitors possible.

5. Reports/discussions:

1. PCS – Sis Simm DWP ’employee deal’ of increased working patterns not fully implemented still after 3 years. Bro Simm’s job at Refugee & Migrant Centre finishes end March due to funding cuts.

2. UCU – Bro Kelleher reported national strikes ongoing currently (not locally) – send solidarity letter to Keele.

3. ♥UNIONS campaign – Bro Kelleher reported on three campaign events this month, Wolverhampton market worked best. Review Wednesfield market for next year, use Bentley Bridge site if available to us. Volunteers from UNITE, UCU, UNISON, FBU, PCS, GMB and South West CLP helped give out Valentine’s flowers while having more than 300 union conversations. Vlogs didn’t happen due to technical issues – no battery in microphone! Possible filmshow on ♥Unions theme of sexual harassment. Could use flyers for filmshow event of “Business as Usual” excellent 1987 film – only fashion is out of date, top cast. Volunteers?

4. WBDTUC Secretary’s report – Bro Kelleher spoke to written report

5. Wolverhampton Palestine Solidarity – Bro Deacon Fri 13 March 7pm Friends Meeting House local supporter report on olive picking in Palestine plus Palestinian speaker. Sat 21 March HSBC protest 10-12. Two HSBC protests held recently with 12 in W’ton and 9 went to Bridgnorth. More positive responses received. Public meeting held on Israeli drone use.

6. Midlands TUC Pensioners’ Network – Bro Deacon AGM to be held 13 March. Discussion on Bus Pass campaign – agreed to do work in Bilston on a Friday inviting Pat McFadden. Bro Deacon written to WM Mayor Andy Street re uptake of concessionary bus pass and extension of age band.

6. TUC Education Video showed How to have an organising conversation which was a ♥UNIONS webinar explaining latest ways to approach workers to recruit and organise

• How to have a basic organising conversation

• Common organising mistakes and top tips

• The best time to recruit a new member