July 2007

WOLVERHAMPTON, BILSTON + DISTRICT TRADES UNION COUNCIL MINUTES OF MEETING 19th July ‘07

Attendance: SISTERS: Taylor (CYWU-UNITE), Walters (ATL), Kelsey (CWU) BROTHERS: Cole (NUT), Kelleher (UNISON G), Deacon (UNISON G), Goodall (UNISON H), Jones (CWU), Childs, (CWU), Bechler (ATL), Brackenridge (FBU), Hardacre (Aspect), SC, Rahimi, Rouse
Apologies: Farmer, Ash, Turner & Ceresa (UNISON G), Juss (GMB), Goalby (FBU),  Grant (UCU)

1.  WELCOME: to all delegates and visitors. New delegates from CWU, UNISON Health and ATL were welcomed.
2. MINUTES OF MEETING 21st June 2007 agreed with corrections: Sister Walters in attendance, Bro. Deacon gave apologies.
Matters Arising: Sec. to check with Treasurer re. whether agreed cheques from June meeting had been drawn up.

3. July EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORT & CORRESPONDENCE of note:
3.1 TUC shop stewards courses Stage 1, ten Tuesdays from 2 October,
H&S Stage 1, ten Tuesdays from 3 October, City of Wolverhampton College, Wellington Road  0121 666 6101
3.2 United Campaign Repeal Anti-Union laws – rally Thurs 18 Oct London, details available
3.3 Midlands TUC meeting cancelled due to weather
3.4 Trades councils’ conference draft national report
3.5 TUCJCC minutes, in response to our letter – put on website
3.6 ordered 300 copies of the Liberty “ID Cards Fiction and Fact” booklets for distribution

4.  REPORTS & DISCUSSIONS
(a) Secretary’s written report accepted. September delegate meeting speaker – Sis Taylor to approach John Cryer to speak on Trade Union Freedom Bill/ EU Constitution/migrant labour. Leeds festival – Bro. Rahimi volunteered.

(b) Delegate Workplace reports – CWU delegates gave a detailed report on their current industrial action and thanked trades council delegates and other trade unionists who had visited picket lines. 100% out in Bilston and two other local offices. 40,000 job losses, later start times, cuts to allowances, casualisation as well as pay rise. Literature was distributed along with details of the ongoing campaign. WHSmith boycott due to them undercutting post office franchises and closing local P.O.s 3 weeks of rolling action planned.
CYWU – negotiating on 3 redundancies
FBU attended Durham Miners annual Gala along with 60,000
UNISON Health – £10.8M savings by April 08 will result in bed cuts & downgrading threats

(c) Anti-BNP campaign – letter from Rob Marris re Wolverhampton Together  launch of anti-BNP campaign July 27th. Sec. & Pres. both unavailable – other delegates will be in attendance.
(d) Cuba Solidarity – Garden Party – 21st July bring veggie food/puddings
(e) LGBT TUC report – written report circulated – put on website

5. GUEST SPEAKER – Dr Andrew Rouse spoke on his trip with other doctors to Gaza & Hebron, Palestine. Exchange visit with PhD student, blocked from undertaking finals by Israel.  Sec. to send copy of WB&DTUC History in thanks.