July 2005

Secretary’s Report JULY 2005 www.wolvestuc.org.uk Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC info@wolvestuc.org.uk

TU branches affiliated for 2005: 13,600 affiliated trade unionists
Amicus-GPM, Amicus 13/D Craft, Amicus 0758, ASLEF, Community (Hall Palm), CWU (W.Mids & Worcs.), CYWU, FBU, GMB X13, NASUWT, NATFHE(Wulfrun), NUT, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Health, UNISON PCT
Previously affiliated branches still to affiliate this year: CWU (W’ton), GMB (Rover), GMB(Bilston), NATFHE (Bilston), NATFHE (University), POA, RMT, TGWU(NULMW), UNISON University

RACIST BASTARD WARNING – Robin 2 has been written to requesting cancellation of Bernard Manning. We made front page news in the Black Country edition of the Evening Mail. Protest will be 20th August if necessary

The next delegate meeting is Thurs 21st July continues discussion on the future roles of Trades Union Councils, the regional TUC and how we all work effectively together.

Saturday 23rd July 3rd annual solidarity Garden Party, Fallings Park 4pm- late.
Venue details from Sec. CSC & Venezuela groups hosting.

As usual there is no August WB&DTUC delegate meeting

£750 was raised at flooded Glastonbury by our team of 6 bar volunteers, (opposite). £350 raised at NASS festival. Leeds festival is expected to raise £850 for us. No Glasto next year so no money for us.

G8 MakePovertyHistory – 4 coaches as well as by car and chartered train, went from Wolverhampton to the biggest demo in Scotland ever, 1/4 million. Participants wore white and formed a human white band around Edinburgh for more than 4 hours. Events began with rallies in the Meadows Park, split over three huge areas in order to accommodate everyone. Musicians interspersed speeches for the crowds who queued all afternoon in order to be able to start the march, which closed Edinburgh for the day. Many thousands were unable to march due to the overwhelming numbers.
There was tremendous support from local people who had decorated the city with huge banners of the declaration MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY as well as MakeCapitalismHistory, a neccessary pre-cursor.
Public buildings had flags fying in support and the Edinburgh castle was decorated with the biggest banner, held aloft for the city to see by two huge cranes.

The number of unemployed people in Wolverhampton April 2005 increased by 192 to 6,414 over the previous month. The Wolverhampton Unemployment “Claimant Count” for the City is 4.4%.
(West Midlands 2.8%. National 2.4%.). % are as a proportion of the Resident Working Age Population (W’ton rate is 6.3%, if compared to economically active adult population)

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