Sunday, January 27, 2008

 

 

The second Annual Conference of Solidarity will take place on the afternoon of Saturday, 23 February 2008 in the Midlands. Notice of venue will be sent by mobile text message to any member registering their intention to attend and supplying their number. Alternatively a public re-direction point will be given on our website nearer the date and sent out by email bulletin and communicated by post to any member requesting this.

 

Any member may propose a resolution if they find another member to second it. If a member is attached to a Branch, Region or Work Sector he/she may only propose a resolution outside of the Region or Work Sector at the discretion of the Executive. Copies of the resolutions must be sent to the Head Office by certified mail to be received at least 14 days before the Conference date.

 

 

In the modern business world those who control communication control the future. If we are not equipped with up to date technology it will be impossible to maximise that communication and ultimately our potential.

 

We need to equip our Union with the necessary tools to do the job - to build the Union and make it a powerful machine fighting in the interests of its members and British workers in general.

 

This is where you, the member come in. We are launching an appeal for each piece of equipment we need to build that fighting machine! The first such target is the purchase of a small photocopying machine. The cost of this will be in the region of £500 . We call upon all members to send us a donation, large or small, toward our target.

 

Mark Walker Update

 

Members will be well aware of the facts of this case. In precis Mark is a teacher who has been victimised for his political beliefs. His employer and their agents have varied the various pretexts and excuses for his continued suspension. We are not fooled. Right from the first 'investigatory' interview it was clear that his real offence was standing as a candidate for the British National Party. It is nearly one year since the original suspension and the Employer is claiming to still be continuing their investigations and indeed is advancing new allegations. They are clearly acting in bad faith.

 

As a direct result of the unreasonable attitude of the employer the case has become more and more complex legally.  Our Union therefore advised Mark to hire a lawyer specialising in employment law and we, together with the campaign group Civil Liberty are raising funds to finance this. Legal disputes aren't cheap. That's why the Mark Walker Appeal is so. We asked you in our last bulletin to contribute £5 to the fund.

 

Please send your donation by post to: Solidarity Trade Union, PO Box 93, Spennymoor, DL16 9AN. Cheques should be made payable to 'Solidarity' but enclose a card or letter indicating it is for the Mark Walker fund.

 

The Mark Walker Fund is an example of a Union looking after one of its own. One day others may need our help. Together we are strong.

 

 

Our Public Relation Company Accentuate has been busy promoting the union. Recently they have highlighted the Union's call to N.U.T members to reject their proposed 'opt-out' political levy and our calls to abandon an RMT conference asking the Government to abolish immigration controls! Letters from the General Secretary have also been published in Regional newspapers as part of our planned campaign to promote the Union and build membership. It is a long road ahead to raise the Union's profile to the public at large but we are determined to offer to British workers the opportunity to join a Union that really looks after their interests.

 

 

Don't forget we like to see the journals of other Unions to keep informed. If you have any please mail them in to Spennymoor once you have read them.

 

 

As mentioned in our previous bulletin we have been very dissatisfied with the service provided by HSBC. That is why we moved our account to Bank of Scotland. If you are still paying membership dues into HSBC please stop this and arrange payment to BoS instead (the Standing Order mandate is available on our website or on request by email or post).

 

 

We would like to thank all those who responded to our last bulletin by recruiting one new member. It was a great effort but if you didn't manage to do it last month try again this month! New members are the lifeblood of our Brotherhood.

 

Solidarity Trade Union, PO Box 93, Spennymoor, DL16 9AN.
www.solidaritytradeunion.net

 

Please login to post comments or replies.