SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRADES COUNCIL

RMT helpline 0800 3763706 :: may 2010 :: RMTnews 22 Trades Union Councils stand for the values of the trade union movement. They were originally formed soon after the birth of trades unions in the 19th century and are as necessary today as when they were founded. Trades councils bring together unions at grass roots level to campaign around issues affecting working people in their workplaces and in their local communities. It is important to remember and to remind others that trades unionists are members of their communities, people with families, dependents, neighbours and friends. They help raise public awareness of rights at work and the union role in enforcing those rights. They can promote recruitment at a local level as well as being active in trade union and community campaigns for dignity and respect in the workplace and beyond. The relevance of trades councils is greater than ever. Anti-trade union legislation has removed some of our traditional rights to organise and campaign. This has re-awakened interest in what trades councils can do. As union branches become geographically bigger and sometimes more remote from their communities, your local TUC can help your union branch take on a public face. An example of this is the way that trades councils have organised or joined local campaigns where public services are being cut. A combination of trades unions with members employed in for example day care, the local trades council and the service users can have a big impact in campaigning. As well as strengthening a campaign it can also raise the positive profile of trades unions. Trades councils have joined with other groups to combat racism and homophobia. In the euro and local elections they worked to expose the realities of the BNP and already they are helping to oppose the election of members of the BNP to Westminster and to local authorities. The TUC describes the local structure: ‘Trades Union Councils consist of branches of trade unions which meet within the area covered by that council, or which have members working or living in the area. A union branch will normally affiliate to the trades union council in the area in which it meets. Each branch will then send delegates to the trades union council's meetings. These branches pay an affiliation fee. Their delegates elect officers from amongst themselves to represent the views and priorities of the constituent branches and to take responsibility for working for and supporting the policy of Congress and the TUC General Council. This is because trades union councils are registered with the TUC, rather than being entirely independent bodies’. The Scottish TUC is independent of the TUC although they work closely together. Your trades council also sends delegates to your regional TUC and has a vote for your representation on the regional SOLIDARITY: Geraldine Murray of the Norfolk County Association of Trades Councils addressing the supervisory and clerical grades conference in Great Yarmouth earlier this year SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TRADES COUNCIL Geraldine Murray of the Norfolk County Association of Trades Councils outlines the importance of local trade union structures and why your branch should affiliate to your local trades council