Next Southend TUC meeting - 01/02/12

Dear Comrade,

NOTICE OF NEXT SOUTHEND TRADES UNION COUNCIL MEETING

Date :             Wednesday 1st February 2012

Time :             6.30pm

Venue :         Labour Party Office, 268 Sutton Road, Southend on Sea

AGENDA

1.         President's opening remarks

2.         Apologies for absence

3.         Minutes of last meeting held on 4^th January& matters arising

4.         Campaigning activities:

·         Union recruitment

·         Southend Against the Cuts

5.         Branch Reports

6.         Financial Report

7.         Correspondence

8.         Any other business

9.         Close of meeting - by 8.00pm

Yours fraternally

Ian Pope

Secretary

Annual Report for 2011

Southend Trades Union Council

registered with the TUC

Secretary’s Report for the year ended 31 December 2011

Introduction

During the year the Southend TUC:

·         Held 11 general meetings with an average attendance of 7 delegates

·         We received affiliation fees from 11 branches from the following unions :
ASLEF, CWU, PCS, RMT, UNISON, UNITE, TSSA

·         Affiliated to the Essex County Association of Trades Councils

Work of the Year

·         Cuts and Public Services

·         Throughout the year we have supported the activities, including the street stalls and public meetings organised by the Southend against the Cuts campaign group, which was set up by the Southend TUC in 2010.

·         On 30^th June, we supported the strike action by PCS, UCU, NUT and ATL in defence of public sector pensions.

·         We assisted with the preparations for the March and Rally in support of the Public Sector strike over pensions on 30^th November.

·         Trade Union Solidarity

·         During the year we send a number of messages to trades unionists in struggle, both in the UK and internationally.

·         We organised a coach to the Burston March and Rally on 4^th September

·         On 2^nd October, I attended the March and Rally to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street.

·         Community Involvement

·         In the run up to the local council elections, we called upon our supporters to vote for the candidates of the Southend Labour Party on the basis of their opposition to spending cuts by the Borough Council.

·         We maintained our support for the Leigh Folk Festival, and held a stall at the festival over the weekend of 18^th and 19^th June. The Trades Unions have now become the major sponsor of the Festival, which is appropriate as folk music originated from the working class over the centuries and Trades Unions are the representatives and voice of working people today.

Summary

During 2011, the Southend TUC has been very active in supporting the campaign against the austerity policies of the Government. We have raised our profile both within our local community as well as in the labour and trade union movement. We stand ready to continue our campaigning activities during the coming year.

Ian Pope

Secretary