May 2001

W’ton, Bilston & District TUC
Secretary’s Report May ’01

2001 Affiliations (so far)
CWU(W.Midlands&Worcs), CYWU, ISTC (Wednesfield No.2), ISTC (Monmore Tubes), ISTC (Hall Palm), FBU, GMB, GPMU, NASUWT, NATFHE (Bilston), NATFHE (Wulfrun), NUT, MSF Craft 13/D, MSF 558, POA, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Health, UNISON Healthcare.
TGWU 5/748 cheque to follow
Some branches are still to affiliate and there are a number of other local branches which have not recently affiliated. Do what you can to get new affiliations, they are the future of our TUC
There are vacancies on the Executive.

I asked in my last report for delegates and branches who publicised our AGM or put the posters up on noticeboards as we request, to contact me. This was because the arsonists who have attacked and threatened me may well have got my address from that particular mailing and it would be useful to know as it may shed a little light on the attacks. Only one delegate has reponded. Does that mean nobody publicises the meetings or nobody reads the report?
Our own delegate survey raised a number of issues which were addressed in order to widen the appeal of the meetings, the very minimum that delegates can do is to try and bring in other trade unionists. As secretary I have exhausted all avenues as regards further expansion and without help, our meetings will never expand and we will suffer the fate of other local TUCs..

Workers Memorial Day Sat 28th April. We had less than half of those who turned up last year. Saturday it should have been easier to attend for many people. It did work very well though. I was interviewed three times on local radio stations about asbestos, this year’s theme. Flags were again flown at half mast, more speeches were made, a banner was made to publicise us and we even sung a song!

Wolverhampton May Day Festival – surprisingly as big if not bigger than last year with over 200 adults and kids, despite not overwhelming support from delegates.. Speeches, stalls, food and kids entertainment went down well though we did have trouble with some of the entertainment not turning up. As I continually stress, the very small involvement from our TUC in the May Day Committee is holding it back and organisiation is letting us down.

General election – as you know our President is standing in W’ton SW for Labour, help is urgently needed ( Jane

Iraqi sanctions – Constituency petitions enclosed please get filled in as a priority as deadline is May 23rd

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