November 2017

Wolverhampton, Bilston & District Trades Union Council
Delegate Minutes
Thursday 16th November 2017 @Unite Office Wolverhampton

1. Welcome & introductions to delegates & visitors Present Sis Simm (PCS), LP sister, Bro Kelleher & Pugh (UNISON Gen), Bueno (Sandwell UNISON), Brackenridge (LP/FBU), Simm (PCS), Coates & Rahimi (UNITE), Childs (CWU), Apologies: Sis Taylor (UNITE) Bro Grant (NUT), Grant (UCU), Juss (GMB), Deacon(UNISON Gen). Sis Simm in chair.

2. Minutes of last Delegate Meeting agreed, no Matters Arising

3. EC Report -points of note:
a) union branches 2018 affiliation forms sent by post and email. Sis Whyte to contact Unison Acute (New Cross). NASUWT region to be contacted as no local contact. Affiliation received by Community Craft branch.
b) future speakers discussed to invite Howard Beckett new WM UNITE leader, NHS campaign via contact from Bro Deacon; Mike Edwards speaking Feb West Park Class of 68 anti-racism project.
c) £300 TUC Development grant avaiable to be sought – suggestions – glossy print run of annual report or general Wolves TUC leaflet for stalls; Love Unions campaign Feb – book Clarion singers/Tim Martin Bilston/Wednesfield/W’ton too?; maybe for WMDay too?; Action for Rail
d) Jane Nellist – new West Mids TUCJCC rep – invite sent and added to mailing list
e) TUCJCC next year’s programme of work – now on website
f) contacted Cnllr Hodgkiss re tinplate worker plaque overdue re-fitting at Civic centre – she has chased up. Cnllr Lawrence contacted re joint invite to Frances O’Grady to unveil – letter sent to him
g) Hazards 2018 sponsorship appeal agreed £30 Bro Pugh attended this year, 44% delegates were from Unison.
h) Midlands TUC AGM 24-2-18 Derby – appears we ineligible to nominate again.
i) Morning Star report of our donation; also thanks from Cuba Solidarity £55k raised for Hurricaine Irma appeal.
j) sent: Battersea & Wandsworth TUC re Workers Beer Company payment £7/hour and NMW
k) paid: £100 donation to Labour Land Campaign; Nicaragua Solidarity £30 to afffiliate + £30 Appeal for health union FETSALUD and public sector union UNE following Storm Nate; Working Class Movement Library appeal £30; stamps bought £20.16 – NK; Palestine Soldarity national demo 4 Nov, £100 coach sponsorship to Z.Ali who booked coach – invoice via Bro Deacon
l) a record 52,000 UK page views on our website this month, mostly via NMWage article, 8xmore than last month www.wolvestuc.org.uk; reach of about 500 again on our facebook page in last month
m) to send: Reply via council leader from Police Crime Commissioner re Britain First demo – request meeting with Roger Lawrence.
n) to send: £40 ten olive tree saplings via PSC

4. Reports:
a) delegate reports: PCS strike ballot – Sis Simm reported 49% turnout 79% to strike 99% action to end pay cap action expected from December. 120,000 early deaths linked to Tory Austerity – new report. Trades Union Council support offered and to help co-ordinate if joint union.
b) FBU Bro Brackenridge reported national withdrawal from emergency falls response due to lack of clinical training – firefighters do first aid and are not paramedics
c) UNISON – increased use of volunteers to undertake council jobs eg West Park -exotic plants in historic Conservatory now dying.
d) Midlands TUC Equalities conference – Bro Childs attended no report
e) WBDTUC Secretary’s written report spoken to by Bro Kelleher. PSC event Sat 9 Dec. Discussion of possible bands for May 1st – Bro Coates & Brackenridge suggested mods Savannah from Telford and ska Beat goes Bang
f) LP Bro Simm now campaign organiser 12-1pm 25 Nov meeting Lych Gate

5. any other business

6. Public Meeting@8pm with social media Blogger “The Lonely Trade Unionist” aka Bro Bob Simm.
Yoo Recruit, set up a year ago by Wolverhampton Council offering temporary public service contracts – worked very well compared to other agencies. Taken over by Adecco who moved office from walk-in site without telling some of own staff and users. New office inaccessible and out of sight. Mug presented to speaker.
Cnllr Brackenridge said there had been no consultation with Labour Group or cabinet members done by officers.