Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council
Delegate Minutes of Thursday 21st May 2026
Introductions made by those present: (delegates in bold): Nick Kelleher, Rob Marris UNITE WM/6150; Marie Taylor UNITE LE/372; Penny Welch UCU Wolverhampton University; Ali Rahimi UNITE WM/5115, Graham Childs CWU; Peter Kibblewhite UNITE WM/7132; Kelly Newell, City of Wolverhampton UNISON; Jacqui Coogan; Claire Dhillon PCS & TULO; Jaydeep Jhamet (IWW); Harjinder Kaur UCU Birmingham
Apologies were received from: Kay Cresswell-Green NEU, Thomas Mohan, Michelle Gayle, Robert Lipke UNITE WM6150, Karin Dannehl UCU University of Wolverhampton, Warinder Juss MP GMB-X10, Michael Vaughan UNISON Staffordshire
- Minutes of last Delegate Meeting (April) agreed; no Matters Arising
- EC report & urgent correspondence
a) NEU affiliation and fee has been received
b) Not affiliated, though contacted: RMT, UNISON Acute, GMB X10, UNISON University, UNITE Retired, NASUWT
c) 1926 centenary film show – “The General Strike – A Revolution Betrayed?”, joint event with Staffordshire UNISON; Thurs 11 June, 7pm for 7.15pm start, food orders in advance. Flyers designed; free entry via Eventbrite ticket.
d) Rob Johnston – Midlands TUC been approached by Townsend Productions to see if we want to host a screening of this new film ‘The Man with the Plan’ A young student, discovers the 1942 Beveridge report – and it’s Five Giants – Want, Disease, Squalor, Idleness, and Ignorance and the whirl of politicians, ineffective policies and missed opportunities across the decades since 1942. It would cost us £150 to screen. Agreed and suggest autumn screening.
e) Steve Pottinger has offered to perform if we do any fundraiser event.
f) Black Country & Enslavement research project – contact Carol Hyatt who volunteered to distribute to Wolverhampton schools and libraries; some distributed at WMDay and May Day and Chainmakers event on June 27th.
g) spent: stamps £45; WMDay flowers £13.86, parking £4; parking to deliver PA 11 April £9; bill to UNITE WM6150 for provision of their wreath to be sent
h) our amendments to motions at tr co nat conf. were accepted onto agenda, with the amendment to the anti-far right motion accepted but the amendment to rule change on finance was not so will be debated. - Wolverhampton Together Alliance and Wolverhampton Palestine Solidarity Campaign took supporters to another national protest against far right, coinciding with Palestine Nakba annual demo. Far right demo was very small compared to previous.
- delegate reports: UNITE national executive elections won predominantly supporters of gen Sec, inc 2 of 3 in West Mids
- Secretary report circulated; Midlands TUC Plan of Work arising from their AGM motions also sent out.
a) TUCJCC had been concerned with conference motions
b) Workers’ Memorial Day – Event very well attended (75) everyone pleased with stone. £2,370 was raised(75% from unions, 25% personal), £1,060 short of total costs, after a further personal donation. Express and Star covered on their Facebook page. NK to enquire if a Development grant might be accessible for this.
c) May 1st was a success; speeches could be heard; band excellent, 200 meals served. £250 donation agreed. still be a deficit of £500 for the event which cost £2,000. NK to call meeting for reflections of 2026 and plan for 2027. - any other business
- @8pm discussion round-table on local council elections, speakers included Harjinder Kaur who stood for Labour in Wednesfield South, Claire Dhillon trade Union Liaison Officer for Wolverhampton West Constituency Labour Party and Cnllr Jacqui Coogan Portfolio holder for Education.
Need to continue to build community connections. Labour Party had worked very hard in many areas with good feedback. Average turnout was little over a third. Reform-Uk won 12; Labour 6; Tories 3. Little Reform-uk campaigning in many areas; candidates very inexperienced, but some drawn in as community-minded; Celia Oswake-Hibbert, expelled by Labour and refused by Lib-Dems, is their new leader. NK to send out vote analysis for constituencies