Secretary’s Report for JUNE 2018        Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC www.wolvestuc.org.uk info@wolvestuc.org.uk

Stuart Grant Wolverhampton Secretary of NEU-NUT section of the new teachers’ union and long-time delegate to Wolverhampton Bilston and District Trades Union Council has died.

He had battled cancer and still in his 40s leaves a wife and step-daughter. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to them and to his father, our Treasurer, John Grant and his wife Chris.

Stuart dedicated his working life to the trade union movement and to the betterment of fellow workers’ lives and to the improvement of education locally for all our children. It is a very sad loss of such a capable comrade.

PSC protest outside HSBC Qu Sq 10-12 Saturday 16 June

An Evening with Dennis Skinner – Socialist, Trade Unionist & Labour Member of Parliament Saturday 23rd June @Light House cinema tickets on sale now or from Wolves TUC

annual Silk Mill march & rally Derby Saturday 23rd June FREE including Atilla the Stockbroker see www.wolvestuc.org.uk

The Fight for Women’s Equality is at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, until 4 July. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10.30am–4.30pm and Sunday from 11am–4pm. Admission is free. For more details, please visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk.

The annual Midlands TUC Chainmakers Festival, is held in Cradley Heath High Street on Saturday 7th July is the largest celebration in Britain of women’s political history. Come and have a sit down with us on our stall.

Firefighters in the West Midlands have voted by a margin of 9 to 1 for strike action in a dispute over the imposition of contracts on new entrants into the service.

The results of the ballot released 29 May show a 90% vote for strike action on an 82% turnout. The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) says West Midlands Fire Authority should urgently listen to its firefighters and withdraw the contracts immediately.

Andrew Scattergood, chair of the FBU in the West Midlands, said: “Our members have made it clear that these contracts are completely unacceptable and should be withdrawn. Firefighters do not vote for strike action easily. There is an overwhelming strength of feeling that these contracts are bad for the fire service, firefighters and the public they serve. We have a mandate to take strike action and we will do if these contracts are not removed.”