Chelmsford TUC

Monthly Reports

MEETING REPORT

Chelmsford TUC delegates were pleased to hear at their monthly meeting that the catering at Mid Essex Hospitals Trust is now being done by its in-house team, a decision we have campaigned for over several years. The Secretary reported that he had addressed a meeting of the recently formed GMB taxi drivers’ branch about the role of the Trades Council and a discussion took place on the postal workers’ strike, the local bus strike and the taxi drivers’ strike. Delegates voiced their backing for all three disputes and offered their assistance.

It was agreed that they would be represented at a post workers’ support meeting and delegates noted that a picture of our “Proud2B in a Union” badge had been featured in several national newspapers during the postal strike.

Delegates reported on their attendance at the demonstration outside the BBC arising from its decision to invite Nick Griffin to speak on Question Time. They also heard that the “Tea with Mrs Pankhurst” event at the TUC had been a great success, and agreed to make a donation to the Sylvia Pankhurst Memorial Committee. The Trades Council will be represented at the Essex Racial Equality Council meeting to discuss ideas for “One World One Essex” in Central Park on 3 May.

Plans to host a delegation of three trade union general secretaries from Venezuela on 30th November were discussed and a meeting will be held with Thompsons Solicitors to finalise details. The meeting was pleased to hear that our stall against racism and our exhibition that took place during Black History month had been featured in the magazine of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association. At the December meeting, delegates will sit down to a dinner in the Red Lion, New London Road.