Minutes of meeting held on Wednesday 18 January 2023 Inaugural meeting and AGM

Present:
Bill Reed; Matthew Williams, Ian Clements, Will Powlesland, Matthew Hooker, Pat McCarthy,, John Tippins, Ian May, Pete Dodkins, Mick Houghton, Judith Atkinson, Lewis Emery, Sharidin Mumuni, Oliver New

Apologies:
Namaa AL-Mahdi, Dewi John, Jake Lagnado, Khaled Kiswami, Ellen Grogan

Introductions
. Delegates and visitors introduced themselves.

Report from the Interim Committee:
Bill Reed reported, as Interim Co-Secretary on the steps that had been taken to arrive at this inaugural meeting. Rules and Standing Orders of the Trades Council had been circulated and were explained. The meeting RESOLVED: To accept the Rules and Standing Orders of Hounslow Trades Council. These are set out below.

Election of Officers
Chair: Ian Clements was proposed and seconded, and agreed
Secretary: Bill Reed was proposed and seconded, and agreed
Treasurer: Namaa AL-Mahdi was proposed and seconded, and agreed. Communications: Ian May was proposed and seconded, and agreed.
The meeting agreed to co-opt a Disability Officer and Women’s Officer.
Disability Officer: Pat McCarthy proposed, seconded and agreed Women’s: Sharidin Mumuni proposed seconded and agreed

Noted that the website was already live.

Bank account
Initial steps had been taken to explore a Bank account. RESOLVED Secretary and Treasurer be authorised to set up an account at Unity Trust Bank on behalf of the Trades Council

Affiliation to Greater London Association of Trades Union Councils (GLATUC). RESOLVED: To seek immediate affiliation to the Greater London Association of Trades Union Councils RESOLVED: To agree to register with the Trades Union Congress

Current disputes:
In the absence of the speaker, Ellen Grogan from the RCN, it was agreed to receive reports from members of the Trades Council involved in current disputes:

Hestia Life Unite dispute.
Ian Clements reported on the dispute and the current strike. A petition was circulated. RESOLVED: To write letter of support to Unite. To lobby Hounslow Labour Councillors who are Unite members, seeking Labour Council support for the strike and to resolve the dispute.

RMT disputes.
Matthew Williams reported on the talks between the RMT, the train Operating Companies and the Government, and the deliberate attempts to frustrate a resolution by the Government.
RESOLVED: To write to the Transport Secretary expressing our concern, with particular reference to the £318 million given to Train Operating Companies, and the funds given to shareholders.

Postal Workers.
Will Powlesland reported on the disputes between the Royal mail and the CWU, with particular reference to the TW postal area. This was a bitter dispute with a hostile management. The UCW were currently reballoting. RESOLVED: To give every support to the CWU in this dispute.

Fulwell bus workers:
Ian May reported on a settlement for RATP workers but with a new pay round coming in the Spring. Workers at Abellio were still striking.
RESOLVED: To support Abellio workers.

Any Other Business
Oliver New reported on Ealing Trades Council recruitment campaign
There was a discussion on how the Trades Council could materially support strikers; it was concluded that the practical difficulties meant it was possibly best to support food banks.
Thanks were expressed to Judith Atkinson who had commenced the process leading to the re-formation of the Trades Council.

Meeting closed 9.25 pm.