June 2002

W’ton, Bilston & District TUC Secretary’s Report June 2002

STOP PRESS:
Our trades council website is up and running, check it out
http://www.wolvestuc.org.uk type in the whole name, if it is not being picked up by your search engines.
The position of President is vacant, we are seeking nominations from branches

Music Festivals – need names for bar workers at Leeds festival 23rd-25th August (need to know by 18th July) and New Year Eve all-nighter, Alexandra Palace, by 6th November

Tolpuddle Martyrs festival Sunday July 21st Dorset
Coventry TUC have organised a coach which is likely to leave at 8.30am.
Contact me asap as they may be able to start the coach from Wolves we have enough.

Paris Trip 2002 – The details of the Paris trip to the Fete de l’Humanite are now available. This will take place between the Thursday 12th September and Monday 16th September 2002. You can obtain the brochure on their website or ring.

Friction Dynamics demo – Over 1000 people were clapped by local people as we entered the town square in Caernarfon on June 8th after our march alongside the 87 sacked Friction Dynamics strikers. The strike has received tremendous support from people and even businesses in the area. T&G contingents came from as far away as Scotland and they were joined on the demo by other unions, trades union councils, Labour and Communist Party. Craig Smith a US millionaire bought the Ferodo brake linings company and then as Friction Dynamics started laying off workers, slashing conditions and tried to smash the union. There are outstanding court proceedings in the US relating to pension funds and asbestosis compensation that he has taken.
Bill Morris, TGWU General Secretary pledged continuing solidarity from his union “until justice is delivered.” He said ” The TGWU has lobbied up front and behind the scenes but I cannot conceive how the Labour government has just stood by for the last 12 months. We want fairness not favours.”
Gerald Parry, the Friction Dynamics T&G branch Chair, sacked after 34 years, praised the support of trade unionists. He said that “trade unions were the only defence for working people. We must fight for our jobs and protect our union so that we may hand them over to the coming generations. Craig Smith has a total lack of respect for working people, our culture and our community. Speaking as a member of the Labour Party, we elected the government for a number of reasons. Protecting and defending the likes of Craig Smith wasn’t one of them. Craig Smith isn’t welcome in Wales.”

Justice for Palestine demo Sat May 18th – we organised a coach to London and 36 went on it another dozen people also went down the night before. Reports estimated it at 50,000, though there was no coverage in any of the daily newspapers except the Morning Star which was praised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Next W’ton TUC delegate meetings:
Committee Room 1, Civic Centre, 7-15pm, Thursday 20th June & Thursday 18th July
Next Executive Meeting: Briefing Room 1, 7-30pm Thursday 11th July

2002 Affiliations Affiliated membership: 11,726
amicus-MSF 0558, amicus-MSF Craft 13/D, ASLEF, CWU(W.Mids&Worcs), CYWU, FBU, GPMU, ISTC(Hall Palm), ISTC(Monmore Tubes), NASUWT, NULMW, NUT, POA, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Healthcare, UNISON South Staffs
GMB, NATFHE, RMT & UNISON Health branch affiliations are overdue.