TYNE AND WEAR COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF TRADES UNION COUNCILS
Probably the high point for the CATUC during the year was the AGM, at which Tom Mellish from the TUC spoke about the Organising Agenda. His presentation indicated just how urgent this issue is for trade unions: 6 million members were lost in 18 years, and at the current rate it will take us 240 years to get back to the 1979 level; there are 3 million workers in unionised workplaces who are not in membership; 32% of public sector workers are not in membership; and the majority of trade union members are over 45 years old. Trade unions are having to shift more resources into organising, to develop active members and active reps and stewards. An active trades union council, he said, needs to: survey affiliates; identify common issues; co-ordinate a local campaign around the key issues; liaise with local groups, producing union information around issues; and take the lead and respond to the economic crisis by emphasising the need for unions.
In the course of the year the CATUC has sought to highlight a number of issues: privatisation of the Metro and other public services; welfare “reform”; the People’s Charter; the situation faced by the Centre Against Unemployment; trade unionism in the community; the role of the Northern Asbestos Support Group. On some of these issues, sharp divisions have developed with the Northern Regional TUC.
The CATUC did work with the Regional TUC in organising and promoting the regional trades councils conference in Middlesbrough in February, at which Val Duncan (National Assembly of Women) spoke on the Charter for Women, Sally Young spoke about the Keep Metro Public Campaign and Kevin Flynn spoke on the TUC’s “Active Communities, Active Unions” campaign. In July the CATUC promoted a further, informal, meeting in Middlesbrough with a view to rebuilding bridges with the Regional TUC. Subsequently, representatives of the different CATUCs met the Regional TUC Secretary, and this did yield some positive outcomes, especially in terms of a joint appeal to support One Fund for All. John McCormack, the regional delegate to the national Trades Union Councils Joint Consultative Committee, is currently drafting this.
MARTIN LEVY
(UCU Northumbria University)
|
Welcome 
Tyne & Wear CATUC 2009 
