Secretary’s Report of Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC
Wolverhampton RMT national strike – Three days of picketing at Wolverhampton railway station by RMT members was supported by delegates from Wolverhampton TUC and also from Walsall TUC, along with other union members, swelling the pickets to over 50 people at times. Two pickets run during these times at both entrances to the railway station, Cornhill and Railway Drive. RMT Catering staff have also since been on strike locally.
RMT has called further 24 hours strike action on Wednesday 27 July, Thursday 18 August and Saturday 20 August over job security, pay and working conditions after rejecting a “paltry” Network Rail offer. RMT members have won a 7% pay increase on Merseyrail, and over 8% on London Underground and on MTR Crossrail and over 9% on the Docklands Light Railway.
ASLEF members at eight train operators including West Midlands Trains – are to stage a strike on Saturday 30 July.
Our banner was featured in the Morning Star after this year’s Orgreave rally.
TUC Women Chainmakers’ Festival – we held the only stall run by a trades union council.
There is no August delegate meeting. We next meet Thursday 15 September. Contact info@wolvestuc.org.uk in the meantime if you have local union news or disputes to publicise.
TUC Midlands Festival of Learning 2nd Sept at TUC office Birmingham 10-4pm.
Abortion Rights Campaign – you can sign up, keep informed by signing up for our free weekly newsletters, all solidarity actions will be posted https://abortionrights.org.uk/news/
We’ve had some new affiliations this month, thanks to branches that have affiliated for 2022:
ASLEF, Community, CWU, FBU, GMB, MU, NEU, PCS Black Country, RMT, UCU Wolverhampton College, UCU Wolverhampton University, UNISON City of Wolverhampton, UNISON University, UNISON Sandwell, UNISON Staffordshire, UNITE WM/6150, UNITE WM/5203 (Ret Mem), UNITE Community WM5115, UNITE LE/372, UNITE WM7032 (Wolverhampton bus garage). WB&DTUC affiliation form at https://wolvestuc.org.uk/affiliating-to-wolverhampton-tuc-2022/