June 2000

W’ton, Bilston & District TUC Secretary’s Report June ’00

2000 affiliations: ASLEF, CWU(W.Midlands), CYWU, FBU, GMB(W70/Willenhall), GPMU, MSF Craft 13/D, MSF 0558, NASUWT, NATFHE(Bilston), NUT, POA, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Health, UNISON Healthcare, USDAW. Affiliated membership: 11,421
Re-affiliations are overdue, could delegates please chase up their own branches.
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200,000 Shop Stewards contribute £440million to UK society by working 5.5 million days voluntarily according to a report by the charity Community Service Volunteers.

JohnO’Groats toLandsEnd – Two marchers from Bury TUC passed through Penkeridge, Pendeford, Tettenhall and Wombourne last month. Some delegates marched with them and Bro.Norman Brackenridgeassisted over a few days with their support vehicle. Two NEHAWU South African trade unionists who were in the town on the same day also met and marched with them.

Fete de L’Humanite(Paris) trip organised by B’ham TUC, some places left £150.
14-18 September, 0121 249 5250 or www.btuc.org.uk

Justice for Jason and Errol McGowan 1 year on – national demo Saturday 1st July, Telford town Park, near town centre, bus and railway stations 11-30am
Speakers: Ken Livingstone, Lee Jasper, Suresh Grover and the McGowan family
Contact Secretary if you are going, so that I can volunteer you for banner carrying duty.

TUC Root out Racism campaign – details of which were not sent to our trades council and I have made a complaint. (I received details via the Communist Party).
From Mon 19 June to Friday 23 June a freephone hotline 08000 320033 is being operated by the TUC for trade unionists (9am to 9pm) who have suffered racist abuse at work to tell their story.

Further details and leaflets: Mike Power TUC 020 7467 1287

Tolpuddle Sunday 16th July, details enclosed, ring early to book your free coach place. In addition to the speakers listed on the leaflet, Tony Benn will also speak.

Ambulance For Cuba – following our donation ealier this year, B’ham, Coventry and Oxford CSC groups and B’ham TUC also made donations and an ambulance has been purchased. It has been used in those towns at events to highlight the appeal. It is available to us if we have volunteers to assist with some solidarity work with Cuba for a day, contact me.

Diversity 2000 – still don’t have full details as the organisation has been problematic.
REC 01902 773589 for full details. There will be floats that then go on to the Wolverhampton Town Show in West Park. It will be in conjunction with the Unity carnival. They have requested that trade unions assemble with the floats with their banners and march.
Assemble 10am Saturday 8th July, Grasshopper factory car park, Whitmore Reans. Unity carnival.