June 2003

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC www.wolvestuc.org.uk (2,800 hits in 1st year)
JUNE 2003 Secretary’s Report wolves.tuc@unisonfree.net

Saturday 28th June 1pm Dudley Leisure Centre car park, Wellington Road, Dudley anti-BNP rally marching to Town Hall organised by Unity Campaign Against Fascism 07960 553 349.

The BNP were defeated in the Walsall council election but came 2nd to the Tories, never having stood before there and after a Searchlight anti-BNP paper was delivered to all homes

Wolverhampton Stop the War Coalition convened by WB&D TUC next meeting MONDAY 30th June 7.30pm, Newhampton Pub, Riches St, Whitmore Reans. They are open to all supporters.

Wolves PSC next meeting Thurs 3rd July Whitmore Reans Advice Centre 7.30pm

Sat 12th July Garden Party for Palestine, organised by W-ton PSC Whitmore Reans 4pm till late contact 01902 450640 for venue, bring food but drink and live music provided.

TOLPUDDLE Coventry TUC has organised a coach Sunday 20th July – coach leaves 8am from Pool Meadow, central Coventry nominal charge

Leeds festival bar volunteers need to join our teams 29-31st August apply soon. Please pass on any names as this is where most of our money comes from for WB&D TUC

4 nights in Paris £160 11th-15th September B’ham TUC Fete de L’Humanite annual trip join other TUists on this excellent trip and very good value. 0121 685 1070 or www.btuc.org.uk – book early

Advance notice:
WM County Assoc of TUCs next meeting Sat 30th August
WM County Assoc of TUCs autumn seminar Wednesday 17th September details to follow B’ham venue
Wolves CSC Thurs 25th September, Graiseley Centre 7-30pm

Progressive Theatre:
 B’ham Rep until 21st June Brassed Off, from 0121 236 4455, miners and brass bands
 BANNER THEATRE: MIGRANT VOICES ­ interweaves Middle Eastern and British musical traditions – an emotionally charged theatrical experience to set audiences thinking about the real reasons why people abandon their homes and families to seek refuge in the west. Based on in-depth interviews with Iraqi Kurdish refugees and asylum seekers living in Britain, this new show combines live music, drama and video to show some of the harsh realities behind the media myths about asylum seekers. Saturday 21st June 2pm Main Hall, Sandwell College, Smethwick, booked by the Refugee Council. contact: Juliet Olivo, 0121 622 0914

Corporate Manslaughter legislation was announced after Workers Memorial Day.

FREE PALESTINE NATIONAL RALLY 17 May – we took a coach with 30 on board, 6,000 at rally, excellent day but down £200 on coach

A dozen Wolverhampton TUists joined over 400 protesters on a demonstration in Sheffield in support of sacked Wil¬liam Cook Foundry workers. Amicus called the pro¬test in support of the workers, who have been on strike for over two years after refusing to ac¬cept a pay cut. The dispute started in April 2001, when the company imposed a further wage reduction of £80 to £120 per week after successive years of wage freezes, pay cuts and redundancies. Following the wage reduction, the workers balloted for industrial action, with the management responding by issuing a new con¬tract insisting that, if the workforce did not sign it, they would be sacked. The workers have now been on strike for over two years and their employment tribunal process has now finished, with a verdict expec¬ted by the end of July. There will then be a 42 day appeals period, with a final conclusion by the middle of September.
Friction Dynamics workers were also there and the result of the appeal against their victory won’t be until November.

New TUC website TUC History online www.unionhistory.info

2003 Affiliates: ASLEF, Amicus-MSF 0758, Amicus-MSF 13/D Craft, CWU (W.Mids & Worcs.), CYWU, FBU, GMB 223 Rover, GMB (X13 B’ham General), GPMU, NASUWT, NATFHE (Bilston), NATFHE (Wulfrun), NUT, POA, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Healthcare – 11,300 trades unionists affiliated – if your branch isn’t listed, it’s not affiliated yet.