Wolverhampton, Bilston & District TUC
Workers’ Memorial Day Stone – we’ve had a quote from a stonemasons of a 30″ granite pillar with a sloping side for our inscription “dedicated to those workers from Wolverhampton and Bilston who have been killed, injured or made unwell by work ….” etc. £3,180 inc VAT and fitting to NAMM/BRAMM standards on site. We will need to apply for planning permission costing £250 first.
We are seeking donations towards costs.
Design is similar to this:
Research project – this second round of research, mainly funded by this branch, has been completed and laid out into a 48 page illustrated booklet, Black Country & Enslavement: Manufacture of Agricultural tools
We have also laid out the original research Black Country & Enslavement: an Overview, that this branch also helped fund, into a 64-page booklet.
Our intention is to print and supply copies to local schools/colleges. both can be viewed online at https://wolvestuc.org.uk/researcher/
Cost to print 1,000 colour copies of each is £1,450.
We would expect to give at least 500 to schools; also to union branches, Wolverhampton Archives, at Chainmakers’ festival, via Black Country TUCs and local history websites and on stalls.
We are seeking donations towards costs.
We are also planning a Black History Month in-person launch meeting this October for the research.
Our September 18th online public meeting is Future of Education in Wolverhampton involving a discussion led by teaching unions.
report from CODIR to which we recently affiliated. They have been able to attend a number of national trade union conferences to hold stalls and most recently the Trades Union Congress. Unfortunately, they also reported the hanging by Iranian authorities of two political prisoners this week and the imminent risk of execution of another 56 trade union and political activists including several prominent women who had stood up for workers’ rights. Meanwhile, the “Tuesdays No to Execution” protest campaign is continuing every week, with a hunger strike taking place in 48 prisons across Iran in the 78th week of the campaign.
UNITE BIRMINGHAM BIN STRIKERS – all out strike since 11 March
Several trades council delegates including myself also took part in the 2nd Megapicket which closed all 3 depots plus 2 more sites being used for scab trucks. Another action is planned for 10th September.
Save the date 🗓
Sat 20th Sept: Brum bin workers march and rally. Assemble 9.30 start 10am from Brum Unite office to City Chambers.
Friday 26th September 2025 – West Midlands Fire Brigades Union is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Unite the Union in hosting a special solidarity event for Birmingham Bin workers, their families, and members of the public who wish to show their support. Everyone will be welcome!
Location: Norton’s, Digbeth Time: From 6pm ‘til late
Live Music | Family-Friendly Atmosphere
This is more than just a night out – it’s a celebration of strength, unity, and community spirit. Together we’ll raise much-needed funds to support the strikers and show that their fight is our fight. Bring your family, bring your friends, and bring your solidarity.
TICKETS HERE – https://www.designmynight.com/birmingham/event-space/digbeth/nortons-digbeth/sounds-of-solidarity?t=tickets
call for all local trades unionists to support Birmingham Bin strike picket lines
6-10am Mon-Fri
- Holford Drive Depot, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2TU, :closest to Wolves
- Atlas Depot, in Tyseley, Birmingham B11 2AS
- Lifford Lane Depot, Kings Norton, Birmingham B30 3JJ
Actions you can take:
- Write to Angela Rayner MP https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-to-rayner-end-the-bin-strikes?source=direct_link&
- Write to the scab agency Job&Talent https://actionnetwork.org/letters/bin-the-scabs?source=direct_link&
- Write to Birmingham City Council https://actionnetwork.org/letters/we-back-the-birmingham-bin-strike-birmingham-city-council-stop-the-cuts?source=direct_link&
- Send a postcard to council Leader John Cotton https://supportbinworkers.unitetheunion.postbug.app/
- Send a message of solidarity to striking bin workers in Birmingham
- donate to the strike fund https://www.unitetheunion.org/campaigns/back-birminghams-refuse-workers-sign-our-petition-today#
Chainmakers festival – you and your trade union branch can donate to keep it going via https://support-the-women-chainmakers-festival.raiselysite.com/
Organizing Amazon: Book launch and public discussion Wednesday 24 September, 7.00pm, TUC Midlands, 47 Summer Lane, Birmingham, B19 3TH. Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/OABham
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (to which we affiliate) sent a legal notice to every council in England & Wales administering a Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) fund, outlining that they are under a legal obligation to take steps to divest from companies enabling Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Write to your local councillors here … to demand they push for the council to end all financial ties to Israel’s crimes against Palestinians.
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Saturday, September 13th
March Against Fascism and Tommy Robinson – West Midlands Coaches:
8.00 am – Coach will pick up at Wolverhampton