September 2003

www.wolvestuc.org.uk Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC
wolves.tuc@unisonfree.net Secretary’s Report September 2003

West Midlands County Association of Trades Union Councils ANNUAL SEMINAR & SOCIAL
“Trade Union Rights” – Wednesday 17 September 2003
Seminar: 7pm, Birmingham Council House, Chamberlain Square.
Speakers: Tony Burke, Deputy General Secretary GPMU & Ruth Winters, Vice President FBU
We will discuss the refusal of the Labour Government to recognise Collective Employment Rights enshrined in International Agreements and the Campaign to obtain those rights in Britain.
Social: 9.15pm closeby in B’ham TUC’s Bread & Roses

Saturday 20th Sept STW leafleting for demo (following Sat) Queens Sq.noon-2pm

By-election in Stoke 21st Sept. BNP are standing 07960 xxxxxx to help anti-fascist leafleting

Thursday 25th September, Wolves CSC meeting, Graiseley Centre 7-30pm

STW/CND national demo
against the Occupation of Iraq
September 27th London
contact Secretary immediately for travel details

Wolverhampton Stop the War Coalition, convened by WB&D TUC – next meeting MONDAY 29th Sept
7.30pm, Newhampton Pub, Riches St, Whitmore Reans. They are open to all supporters.

Quiz 4 CUBA Wednesday 22nd October 7.30pm Newhampton Inn Live music from the Doyle Band Tickets £2
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Friction Dynamex – after winning their tribunal, the 86 workers, who are still maintaining their picket line near Caernarfon, may lose everything. Craig Smith the US owner, has declared the company bankrupt last month, split it into three and renamed it Dynamex Friction, reopening overnight at the factory. The T&G are pursuing this loophole with the government. The CATUC seminar on Sept 17th is all the more important.

Unemployment “Claimant Count” July 2003 – the number of unemployed people in Wolverhampton increased by 52 (0.8%) to 6,757 over the previous month. This compares with an increase of 51 (0.8%) over the previous 12 month period. The current rate of unemployment for the Borough is 6.6%.
The number of unemployed people in the West Midlands County rate increased by 442 (0.7%) to 66,332 from the previous month. This compares with an increase of 1,760 (2.6%) over the previous 12 month period. The current rate of unemployment in the West Midlands County is 6%.
Nationally, the number of unemployed people increased by 5,286 (0.6%) over the previous month. This compares with a decrease of 7,743 (-0.8%) over the previous 12 month period. The current national rate for unemployment is 2.6%.

TUC Courses at Jennie Lee Centre, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield WV11 3HT applications to:
Sandwell College, Trade Union Studies Dept, Pound Road, Oldbury, Warley B68 8NA 0121 253 6874 9am-4pm

 A 36-week TUC Employment Law course has been planned. There may be day and evening times. If you are interested, contact as above.
 Core union representative skills- a supporting skills programme will be made available alongside TUC 10-day courses. This is intended to allow union representatives to concentrate on the written communication skills and use of numbers associated with the union representative role. This will also provide an ideal opportunity to fill the ‘qualifications gaps’ that so any people have.

Over £1000 was raised by a team of eight, working at Leeds Festival this month.

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 (University), NATFHE (Wulfrun), NUT, POA, TGWU 5/748, TGWU 5/836, UNISON General, UNISON Healthcare 11,600 trades unionists affiliated