Annual Report 2019 Forward with your union

Kev Terry, in the Chair as well as the saddle on his sponsored ride around Cuba

Message from Kev in the chair 2018 was a very tumultuous year for unions to celebrate the struggles of many with no clear vision of what our forebears and reminds us means. While the politicians argue, the that the fight still goes on. So workers suffer attacks on their terms let’s look forward to 2019 with and conditions. Wages have been renewed vigour and with hope squeezed and all unions are fighting for and positive actions, we will their members. In all this, we have had prevail. some wins. My own union Unite, went Thanks to Joanne Kaye, the to Brussels to help sister unions beat vice-chair, all the Executive, off attacks on drivers working time and Regional Council members rest periods - and we won. No doubt and the team in the they will be back so no resting on our South West TUC. laurels.

Tolpuddle was a resounding success, Joanne Kaye, Vice-Chair the weather was fair and both stole the show and caused havoc with his walk-about and meeting as many people as he could. The festival is a coming-together of

South West TUC Regional Council Forward with your union

rexit has dominated MEP provided the Regional aimed at helping apprentices. so much of the news Council with an update from The South West TUC believes agenda for the last year. Brussels and Matt Griffiths the government should BIt has squeezed out critical from Business West gave the simplify the rules and end the issues that deserve attention. Executive a stark assessment discrimination against young The South West, like the of potential damage to workers. But action could whole country, remains investment and long-term be taken immediately by divided on the issue but there prospects. mandating training providers is much trade unions can unite The officers of the South check minimum wage around. We fight to protect West TUC have met the compliance at the same time the limited rights workers region’s Labour MPs through they check training records. have and the highly skilled the year and jobs that depend upon EU although Brexit trade. Some of the region’s has dominated ‘crown jewel’ employers, discussions other especially in aerospace and issues have been advanced engineering have raised such as sounded warning alarms over the need to Britain crashing or slipping reform apprentice into protectionist border minimum wages, controls and tariffs. living wage Health and Social Care campaign and already has acute staff workers’ rights. shortages, a problem that will South West TUC only get worse after Brexit. Apprentice Pay Officers meet The important South West The complexity Labour MPs food and drink sector could of the National from the region be boosted by higher prices Minimum Wage and rates Living Wage but the consumer will pay for young people are one of The campaign for Better Jobs the price. Finding labour the key reasons why so many in Bristol has led to Marvin for seasonal agriculture will apprentices are underpaid. Rees, the Mayor, signing as probably lead the gang The rates are far too low an accredited Living Wage masters to recruit more in any event but the TUC employer - the first council vulnerable migrants from believes more must be done in the region to do so. It is further afield than the EU. to stop ‘non-compliance’. hoped that other authorities After researchers from such as Cornwall, Plymouth Brexit has been on the University of the West of and Stroud will follow suit. agenda for many meetings England exposed the level through the South West of under-payment the TUC year. Clare Moody South West TUC launched a campaign to raise awareness of the issue and challenge training providers to do more to tackle it. A simple to use pay calculator is now online at www.tuc.org.uk/ Jess Hurd taking photos of apprenticepay and a range of apprentices at Bristol Port materials has been circulated Apprentice pay campaign materials This ensures that staff in the supply chain as well as direct workers are paid the real Living Wage, currently £9 an hour. Care workers are amongst the beneficiaries of the Living Wage Campaign but the pressures facing them to accept worse terms remain. UNISON care workers took several days of strike action at Sirona Care, a so-called social enterprise based mainly in Bath. The action took considerable courage by carers who remain determined to stick together to be treated Nigel Costley with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees fairly and with respect. Mayor Marvin the same courses, are on pay Rees signs the New Deal for Workers Living Wage levels well below those in pledge The TUC called a big march secondary schools. to demand a New Deal for USDAW recently launched its Workers in Time for Better Pay calling May. The rally for a £10 an hour, minimum attracted a 16-hour contracts and a right lot of media to ‘normal hours’ contracts. attention. The New Deal for Workers demo It backed up its case with South West a comprehensive survey of team again pay cap for many public some 10,500 workers that marshalled sector workers especially in exposed the problems of the front of the civil service. A recent poor pay and insecure jobs. the London survey found 69% of civil servants dissatisfied with their Dave Prentis, procession. Impact of cuts UNISON pay and conditions. General Most workers have still not The cuts to public spending Secretary joins seen pay recover to their College lecturers, fed up with continue despite the Tudor Evans, levels in 2008. The pay being left further and further government’s promise of Plymouth leader squeeze is the longest in 200 behind have taken strike an end to austerity. West and union reps action in four colleges across in signing the years. Country Councils have been the South West. Further hit hard and are yet to make Ethical Care Delegates supported a education has suffered from further savings. Somerset Charter motion from PCS last year cut backs and staff teaching County Council’s Conservative protesting at the on-going leadership expressed its frustration with government Sirona care workers lobby the council in Bath and local Tory MPs after it announced its financial crisis.

Respect and racism USDAW also highlighted the increasing abuse on shop workers including the lack of police response to shoplifters. The South West TUC met with Sue Mountstevens, the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss these and other

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reportdigital.co.uk Apprenticeships across © Jess Hurd/ the West of England

Making a West Country difference Looking at Women “A real union champions in Leadership opportunity” We continue our look at the Pages 8 & 9 people who shaped our Aliza on being an political history apprentice at Bristol Pages 6 & 7 City Council Pages 4 & 5 Nick Ireland and Kay Timbrell promote USDAW’s pay campaign successes of trade unions as issues. She explained the well as to promote current squeeze on police resources campaigns. This year a central and the lack of capacity they theme was the case against now have, to respond as they would like. The meeting also discussed rising levels of abuse and racist attacks especially in the wake of the EU referendum. Roger McKenzie, UNISON Sue Mountstevens has been Assistant General Secretary with a strong advocate for more Michael Auguste at the Plymouth Painting called: Sorry! Tribute to event to mark the anniversary attention on such crimes the murdered Kamil Ahmad alongside domestic abuse of the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics and modern slavery. zero-hours contracts. Unions Trade unionists joined others used the week to recruit new substantially pruned following to pay tribute to Kamil Ahmad members and promote their strict adherence to GDPR. and Bijan Ebrahimi asylum campaigns. Lots of people The South West TUC annual seekers who were killed in took to social media to shout conference proved an racists attacks in Bristol. out for their unions. opportunity to share advice Bristol Cable writer Rebecca about GDPR as well as debate Yeo, who has championed the West Country Workers the tensions between the cause of disabled refugees, A special edition of the gave an impassioned speech popular West Country to the Regional Council. The Workers was produced to need to challenge prejudice be used in and around Heart and racism in workplaces Unions week. This remains a priority for the well written, good TUC and all unions. looking magazine Asher Craig, Bristol’s provides more in Deputy Mayor joined depth look at some of the key topics in Joanne Kaye at the Tom De Wit, Stand Up To Racism event the region. Tolpuddle to mark the Holocaust Martyrs Museum The South need to gather and spread Memorial Day. West TUC Manager and news, information and Amanda Brown, mailing Heart Unions Week solidarity messages with the UNISON Dorset lists present a Heart Unions needs of data protection have rules. cheque, raised Week is a great been through t-shirt opportunity to TUC Education sales, to Bus celebrate the Shelter Dorest Matching the needs of reps value and to buy sanitary with convenient training products for courses will always be a homeless challenge in a big region like women the South West. The network Asher Craig, Bristol’s Deputy Mayor of college providers of TUC education shrunk in the face expose and help resolve the of falling demand, the rise causes of mental ill health. of individual union courses, Unions are also seeking to pressures on reps over time- respond to the needs of off and cuts in public funding. neuro-diverse workplaces A London college had been recognising that everyone covering the provision, but has different needs and the the South West TUC was best organisations are those Hugh Robertson, TUC Health delighted when the City who understand the variety and Safety Officer, Mike Osment, of Bristol College agreed of mental health conditions Mayor of , Joanne Kaye to take it back with Alison and accommodate them and Nigel Costley Foster employed as the positively. new co-ordinator. She is the region to mark Workers The South West TUC developing the menu Memorial Day. A short Executive established a of reps training as well memorial event was held mental health working group as a number of short in the Mariners’ Church in that allowed union reps to courses and seminars. Gloucester Docks. share some ground-breaking Mental health at work being done. This led to Salisbury work a highly successful symposium Meanwhile Salisbury suffered in Exeter. An area of huge from the after effects of the Novichok poisoning interest for rep Health and Safety training is around attack. The tourist trade fell Events were held across mental health and work was disrupted by at work. Rising the big clean up operation. Alison Foster stress as well The South West TUC held the new co- as heightened a successful Health and ordinator of awareness has raised mental Safety rep conference in the trade union health as a core trade union town including a discussion education for on dealing with hazardous the region issue. Unions won’t accept that workers need to be materials and emergency hardened or ‘resilient’ to the response procedures. Workers Memorial Day event in causes of stress and anxiety. Mariners’ Church, The Docks, Past and future of work Union reps are also there to Gloucester Diversity, in all its forms, is

Ines Lage in discussion with Ade Bamgboye, a UNISON delegate 7

Lecture. This was one of a number of trades council events through a year that was the TUC’s 150th anniversary. An exhibition highlighting Patrick Brione from the IPA speaks the key stories of the TUC’s about the future of work history was shown at the Antonia Bance, Annual Conference and spent one feature in the debates TUC’s Head a few weeks at the Shire Hall over the future of work. A of Campaigns in Dorchester. and Communi- discussion at the Annual cations with Conference featured Patrick Other events included taking Nigel Costley Brione from the Involvement the Tolpuddle story to London and Joanne and Participation Association with Nigel Costley, Graham Kaye after and Simon Fox from Unite Moore and Gill Redmond speaking about who presented different providing an evening of words the digital future for scenarios for the years ahead. and song. unions Automation and digital Historical trade union stories technologies are going to from around the region are transform work for good and told in a series online through bad and unions will be there the Tolpuddle Martyrs Lord Neuberger, former head of to represent the interest of the Supreme Court helps launch website. This also includes an the Shire Hall museum working people. extensive gallery of banners.

Digital Future Tolpuddle Martyrs The TUC has new online tools The Tolpuddle Martyrs’ for unions and is working on a Festival was held during new digital initiative aimed at the long, hot summer. It young workers. was a fantastic gathering to Antonia Bance, TUC celebrate trade unionism and Head of Campaigns and enjoy a wide range of music Communications spoke to and political debate. the Annual Conference to The South West TUC is Nigel Costley with Kate Adie stress the need for unions to represented on the Trust realise the potential of online that has opened the Shire Congress House prior organising. Hall and historic court to being put on display at Tolpuddle Martyrs TUC 150 room in Dorchester. The new attraction has already Museum. Warren describes Nigel Costley gave a scooped a bag full of tourist disturbances at the Vicarage presentation on the future awards. after he refused to sign the of work to Trades petition to Council’s Thomas Helliker Letters written in 1834 by parliament Vicar of Tolpuddle Rev. to free the Thomas Warren were displayed at

South West TUC Regional Council supports the PCS pay campaign 8

South West TUC Pensioners The South West TUC Pensioners’ Conference attracted retired members from around the region and lots of unions. Delegates heard Jacqueline Cobb highlight pensioner poverty, Nigel Costley Nigel Costley spoke about joins Petroc the changing nature of College Martyrs. He goes on to say work, Neil Duncan-Jordon management that “these Unions MUST from National Pensioners and union reps be put a stop to, or the in signing the Convention covered a country will be together by TUC’s Dying to range of subjects including the ears…” These important Steve Preddy, the new Unite Work Charter generational solidarity a original letters were secured Regional Secretary subject also taken up by Jack by generous donations by Jones, Policy Campaign and trade unions. Support Officer from the TUC. Oliver Trevett A range of motion’s were Very sad news came with the passed on topics including death of Oliver Trevett. Oliver ID checks for voting, free was a branch secretary for the bus passes, social care and National Union of Agricultural defence of the free TV licence Workers, later for over 75s. on part of the Transport Farewell Phil and General Joining the ranks of the Worker’s retired was Phil Bialyk the Union and a well-respected regional champion for officer for the RMT. Phil has farmworkers played an active role in the rights. Oliver South West over many years. Oliver Trevett was involved He is now a leading Labour Girlie Magagula enjoys a monent with Neil with the councillor in Exeter. on Croyde Bay beach after a long Kinnock planting Festival from the 1950s and tour on behalf of her union in a new Tolpuddle spent more than 25 years New South West Unite Swaziland tree in 1984 living at Tolpuddle where he Regional Secretary died peacefully aged 92. Steve Preddy took up the year of women, we teamed position of Regional Secretary up with TUC Education to Dying to Work Charter for Unite after Peter Hughes run the first ever Women The Dying to Work Charter switched to Wales Unite. in Leadership Programme has been signed by more in the South West. Pulling South West organisations. Girlie Magalula together 24 women from 11 They pledge to support A highlight of the last different trade unions and just workers who face a annual conference was the as many work backgrounds, terminal diagnosis address by Girlie Magagula. the women developed their and who wish to She was at the end of own leadership style, how continue working an exhausting to speak up for themselves for as long tour to garner and others, running their own campaigns and lobbying Phil Bialyk, RMT as possible. support for her Officer is given Plymouth embattled union for change - all whilst being a fond farewell College, Petroc College in Swaziland. exposed to women leaders in Devon, DAS in Bristol from the region. It was a and Bristol City Women in great success with most of Council have leadership the women having already agreed the During the risen at work, in their trade charter. Maggie Roberts in the chair for the pensioners’ conference 9

Cornwall Trades Union Council Bridgwater at one of its Trades Union regular street Council stalls supports GMB pay campaign

Women in Leadership participants gather for their visit to Brussels

Women in Leadership at the in Brussels

Salisbury Trades Union Council at the Carnival

Steve Gillan POA General Secretary speaks to Bridgwater Trades Union Council

active with regular street stalls. Dave Chapple speaking to the There were two meetings of Wells May Day rally all trades union councils this The first Wells May Day march unions and in their personal lives.

Trades Union Councils The region’s trades union councils help co-ordinate trade union campaigns in their areas. Championed by Dave Chapple, the South West rep on the TUC Joint Consultative Annual meeting Committee, the councils of South West have organised events, stalls Trades Union and supported picket lines. Councils Cornwall has been especially 10

Front of the procession at the 2018 Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival

Wanda Wyporski, Maxine Peake, Clare Moody MEP and Dawn Primarolo after a panel debate on women

Billy Bragg

Captain Ska

Drumming session in the Kids’ Area Jeremy Corbyn speaks to the Tolpuddle audience Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Festival 2019 11

South West TUC Team OFFICERS Kev Terry Chair Joanne Kaye Vice-Chair Dave Chapple Trades UCU picket line at Petroc College Union Council South West rep cap still in force in the civil service and various other STAFF union campaigns. Nigel Costley Ruth George MP speaking to the Wells May Day rally Unions on Jersey have been Regional Secretary fighting an unprecedented Marie Hughes year and they heard from a struggle with the island’s Education Officer range of speakers about their government over public Ines Lage experiences of becoming sector pay. Policy and Campaigns active in unions. These confirm the Support Officer The new Mendip Trades importance of working Tanya Parker Union Council helped closely together and Secretary organise the first Wells supporting the work of Unionlearn officers May Day rally and the South West TUC. operating from the region: Salisbury Trades Union Elaine Dobson, Keith The Executive had the Council joined the and opportunity to wish Hatch Andy Moss town’s carnival with Tanya Parker a very Tolpuddle Museum their banner. happy special Tom DeWit Manager Bridgwater Trades birthday and Caroline Binder Museum Union Council held thanks for all Shop and Festival a range of events her support in the Assistant including one with Judith Des TUC Office. Steve Gillan, General Bonne spoke Secretary of the Prison of here Officers Association. experiences as a black woman in Solidarity Somerset One of the main roles of the TUC and Trades Union Councils is to show support and solidarity to unions on strike or leading particular campaigns. We have done that throughout the year such as to the care workers on strike at Sirona, the UCU Unite out in Bristol for Heart Unions Week Further Education staff on strike for a fair deal on pay, Photo: David O’Toole the campaign to break the pay

UCU members and supporters outside Bridgwater College Church House, Church Road, Filton, Bristol BS34 7BD 0117 947 0521 [email protected] www.tuc.org.uk/southwest @swtuc