New trades council AGM a huge step forward

The newly elected officers of the Corby and Kettering
 Trades union council

The newly formed trades council covering both Corby and Kettering held its first Annual meeting last night in the Trades and Labour Club in Corby. A short business meeting elected new officers for the trades council followed by an open public meeting to discuss campaign priorities.
The open meeting was addressed by Nick Kelleher, Secretary of the very successful Wolverhampton, Bilston and District trades council who spoke about campaigning and growing his organisation by being visible in support of unions in the area. Street campaigning had been an important element in growing the trades council.
Alan Weaver, Midlands TUC Policy and Campaigns Officer, spoke about the current economic situation and emphasised that the cuts would not just hit public sector jobs but those in the private sector who had work with government departments and councils.
New trades council President Stewart  Campbell of Unite introduced the problem of street lights being turned off by the County Council and new Secretary, Natalie Newby of the GMB highlighted the issues around the government's proposals to introduce Free Schools.
The debate on these issues highlighted the problem of increased crime where lights had been turned off, and the possibilities that Free schools could move away from established terms and conditions for school staff. The meeting agreed that these would be the first two campaigns to be run by the trades council.