Dudley General Branch

Ian Austin MP and Dudley College Students' Union are hosting a Holocaust Memorial Event at Dudley College on Friday 27th Jan. The event starts at 11.45 and finishes approx 1pm. All are welcome.

Like the rest of the country the support for the action on the 30^th November was tremendous. People who had never been on strike before in their lives, and probably thought they never would take action, joined in taking the action. There was a real show of unity with unions from the all parts of the public sector taking part. For the most part the day was good humoured with great support from the public. Thanks to the café owner who brought cups of tea out to the pickets on Dudley Council Plus. Very welcome on a cold morning. There were one or two incidents involving a couple of the self-important and self-righteous who crossed the picket lines, it’s doubtful that they will refuse any gains that the days action will bring to staff.

The rally at Dudley’s Station Hotel was a great success with over 500 people packing the meeting room. Addressing the meeting Unison Branch Secretary, Steve Beardsmore condemned Government Minister Michael Grove’s comments in which he accused the unions of wrecking the economy. Steve said that Government and their banker backers did not need any help from the unions to wreck the economy; they were managing to do that quite well on their own. Revelling in the day’s unity he went on to say that one hundred years after the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) had campaigned for ‘One Big Union’ it had been achieved in this dispute.

Branch Chair Cathy Bayton commented on the day saying ‘The unity and joint working between the various unions was unprecedented. The Government cannot ignore this show of solidarity. The people who took this action are not a bunch of left wing militants. They are hard working ordinary people who feel cheated by the government’s plans to rob their pension scheme to pay for the greed of rich bankers’   

November 30th

 

Subject to the offer being accepted, Unison will be holding Surgeries to advise members on appeals from the 5th Jan 2012. Members will be advised in the following order.

Dates are subject to change depending on demand.

To book an appointment ring 01384 233870 or Internal 5394. Bookings will not be taken by E-mail.

Please find attached a model letter which we urge all our members to send to their MP.  Find your MP here.

Please click on the image below to read our letter sent to the Leader of the Council, Cllr. Les Jones:

Following sixteen years of Branch Secretary for Service Conditions, and many more years as an activist in UNISON and NUPE, Graham Moore has decided to call it a day and enjoy a well-earned retirement. Everyone at the branch wishes Graham and his wife Lesley a long and happy retirement and hope Graham has many years snapping wildlife.

Andrew Maybury was the only candidate to replace Graham and it is hoped Andrew will take up his new role when he returns from Annual Leave in September. Andrew is currently the Branch's Health and Safety Officer and our Pensions Champion. He is also active in the Region, Dudley Trades Council and the Labour Party.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary

A big thank you to all those tens of thousands of UNISON members and their families who turned out on Saturday to make the march for jobs, justice and growth such a success.

It was a very proud moment to be setting off at the head of the march with the UNISON banners, balloons and yes, even the vuvuzelas.

A small number of demonstrators tried to hijack the march by creating havoc in London - but those who were there know that these people had nothing to do with the TUC protest.

The march was another step in our campaign to pressure the government to see there is an alternative.

The fight for our public services must go on.

London March Photos

TUC March for demonstration. Over seventy branch members attended the demonstration.