TUC at World Mental Health Day event

Pictured, above, are Don Sharpe of the Musicians Union and Ken Wheatley from the ATL, who staffed the TUC stall at Chesterfield's Winding Wheel for the first of two World Mental Health Day events. 

The Midlands TUC Disabled Members Forum is supporting these events for the second year running and talking to participants about the role trade unionists can play in supporting those who may have mental health problems. 
World Mental Health Day falls on 10th October this year and this event, produced by Derbyshire NHS Trust, is one of two the Trust has arranged. The second event is this Thursday at the Riverside Centre in Derby.

All set up for "Unsent Letters" in Chesterfield

Today is the first if two outings this week for our Midlands TUC Disability Forum as we exhibit at the performance of Unsent Letters. This is part if the World Mental Health day which the TUC is very happy to support.
"Unsent Letters" is a one woman play by Polly Wright and is performed by Debbie Tracey.

Teachers march and rally in Birmingham

As part of the rolling regional action by the NUT and NASUWT teaching unions, a march and rally took place in Birmingham on Tuesday 1st October. Here re just a few images from the day.

Chris Keates on the platform

Now we have the last speaker, Nasuwt general secretary Chris Keates, detailing the attacks on teachers conditions of service and the affects of cuts on children's education.

Teachers rally at Birmingham ICC

First speaker on the platform at the ICC, parents should remember that we are here today because Gove will not negotiate.

Save Our Royal Mail Campaign

 

 

The Save Our Royal Mail campaign, currently being led by the CWU, has the 100% support of the Midlands TUC. As the TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, made clear at the TUC Congress "we will fight this latest, senseless, sell-off of the family silver – hands off our Royal Mail." The support of the trade union movement is unequivocal. With solidarity, commitment and determination we can, and will, win the battle to save the Royal Mail.

It is clear that the Save Our Royal Mail campaign has broad based support from unions and community groups, and that CWU members from right across the Midlands and the UK have been conducting a brilliant campaign that has been successful in raising awareness of the issues involved and in garnering widespread public support.

As a result of the CWU campaigning, the public are increasingly aware that privatisation can only but result in a deterioration in the universal postal service. A deterioration that will impact disproportionately on deprived and isolated communities; severely hit small businesses, and negatively impact on the dedicated Royal Mail workforce.

Quite simply privatisation is being pursued by the Government to sell off a successful business to the private sector on the back of outdated, misguided and wholly misplaced neo-liberal ideology. Unfettered free markets resulted in the 2008 crash from which we the country is still suffering. Clearly, this Government has not learnt the lessons.

And, what’s more, it is clear privatisation is singularly rejected by the British people. The most recent opinion poll has shown that 70% of the public are opposed to this senseless sell-off – including a majority of Tory voters.

So, it is clear that the opposition to privatisation is strong, with the public instinctively understanding the vital role that the Royal Mail plays in British society.

The Midlands TUC stands squarely with the CWU in this fight.

Labour councillors show support at protest

Labour councillors Bob Scott and John McGhee talk to protesters outside Northamptonshire County Hall prior to the council debate on staff conditions of service today.