Calderdale
Trades
Council
Calderdale Trades Council is the local Trades Union Council for the Calderdale MBC area in West Yorkshire. We exist to bring together union branches and members at a local level to campaign on issues affecting working people in their workplaces and their communities. Click below for our leaflet and affiliation form
All trades unionists and others who share our objectives welcome. We encourage affiliations from all union branches which have members who live or work in Calderdale.
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Fighting for anti-racist
workplaces - Stand Up To Racism & TUC conference |
Saturday 27 February, 11am onwards
Click to register |
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GMB announces further British Gas strike dates GMB members in British Gas have announced five more days of strike action over the company’s fire and rehire pay cuts. The latest dates, for 24 hours each day, are February 5, 6, 7 and 8. More information Donate to the Strike Fund here |
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Strike ballot in Manchester bus
drivers fire and rehire dispute Unite the Union, has balloted its members at bus company Go North West in Manchester for strike action, in a dispute over the company’s decision to impose new contracts of employment by firing and rehiring its workforce, resulting in cuts to jobs, pay and conditions. |
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TUC campaign: Winning a
pay rise for key workers Day in, day out key workers take care of us. And during the pandemic - they never stopped. All key workers need a pay rise. When the shelves needed stocking - they were there. When hospitals were at breaking point - they were there. When children needed support and care - they were there. Throughout the pandemic they went to work and risked their lives to care for us. They risk their lives every day. Yet they get paid 8% less than the average. Nurses, teachers, care workers, cleaners and ALL key workers deserve a pay rise. Support key workers' demands for a pay rise: 
Key worker? Sign up to speak at your local MP meeting
The TUC needs key workers to tell their stories to their MPs, so they understand their experiences. Will you tell your story? Keep updated with the latest campaign updates Join the list to receive weekly updates on the campaign, including resources, latest developments and social media assets. |
Sign the petition
Join more than 50,000 people calling for a pay rise for key workers. Add your name today. Join the TUC's organising call Tuesday, February 9th at 6pm. Join the call with Nadia Whittome (MP and former carer) and Kevin Courtney (general secretary of the National Education Union) and step up to take action for key workers. Sign up to help run a meeting in your constituency The TUC needs someone in your constituency to help organise an MP meeting. Will you step up? |
Calderdale Trades Council co-hosted the morning session Jobs For Our Future at Calderdale Green New Deal's 'Building a Better Future for Calderdale' online event on Saturday 6 February, starting 11.30am.
Download the programme:
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HeartUnions Week takes place from 8-14 February 2021. It’s a chance to tell the story about why unions are vital for everyone at work, and encourage people who aren't yet in a union to join.
More information More than six million workers in the UK are in a union – from nurses to pilots, actors to lorry drivers. If you're not in a union yet find the right union for you Two opportunities to tell the stories of workers and union members like you: TUC case studies - tell us what you and your colleagues have done during the pandemic Proud to be Union - Tell your story HeartUnions leaflets, posters, social media graphics, organising guides and more available here |
#HeartUnions event: Organising vs. COVID (with NEU and TUC Education) Wed, 10 Feb 2021 - 17:00 to 18:00
Last month, Gavin Williamson forced teachers into unprecedented national action. Whilst the government denied the dangers of COVID, teachers refused to put themselves and their students at risk. It was a stand-off, and the government blinked first. But this wasn’t by chance. Unions won thanks to unprecedented mass organising of their members online and over the phone. Recruitment went through the roof, and school bosses were forced to concede. Come hear how local NEU rep Steve Scott pulled this off in East Yorkshire, and get introduced to the TUC's new online organising toolkit, so you can pull off the same mass organising in your workplace. More information and to register |
Challenging Racism in Housing
Online Meeting organised by Calderdale Stand Up To Racism, Friday 12 February, 7 pm: Over three years on from Grenfell, the tragedy that exposed the UK’s brutal inequality, racism and injustice, victims |
have yet to see justice and compensation. The problems of Grenfell are apparent across the country including in Calderdale. BAME people, refugees and asylum seekers are often housed in poor conditions with little to no public support. The pandemic has also highlighted the disproportionate impact of Covid on BAME people in part thanks to overcrowding allowing for greater spread amongst single households.
This meeting will look at the ongoing campaign for justice for Grenfell victims, the problems of racism in housing and how we can tackle them. Speakers: Justice 4 Grenfell - Judy Bolton, Migrants Organise - Veeca Smith, Calderdale Councillor Jane Scullion. Facebook event |
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Defend Victimised NEU Reps
Reinstate NEU Rep Louise Lewis - North Huddersfield Trust Kirklees NEU are campaigning to Reinstate Rep Louise Lewis who was suspended by North Huddersfield Trust on 1 October. Sign the Petition Huddersfield TUC online rally Wednesday 27 January, 6.30pm https://www.facebook.com/events/260049392215793 |
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Don't let the government cut union learning
Department for Education ministers have decided to end the Union Learning Fund from March 2021. This is an astonishing and counterproductive decision – last year more than 200,000 learners got new skills through union learning. More information Sign the petition Email your MP |
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Bradford bus drivers vote overwhelmingly for strike action over safety
Update, 2 February 2021: Unite the Union has resolved this dispute with First Bradford Buses Bradford bus drivers have voted overwhelmingly for strike action over First West Yorkshire’s continuation of ‘dangerously unsustainable’ scheduling. Out of the 350 bus drivers at the Bowling Back Lane site entitled to vote, nearly 300 voted in favour of strike action against the company’s refusal to restore schedules to pre-pandemic levels. Traffic and service levels have returned to near normal but members are still working extended shifts brought in during the initial lockdown. |
The working patterns currently in place are causing fatigue and stress for drivers, which is a danger to both themselves and the public. Strike dates will be announced after the New Year. Unite Press Release 9 December 2020 |
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#battleforbarnoldswick
Ground-breaking deal by Unite saves Barnoldswick’s Rolls-Royce factory and 350 jobs Unite the Union News article Rolls Royce strikers in Barnoldswick have been on strike to save their jobs. 520 workers at the Rolls Royce factory in Barnoldswick, Lancashire voted for over 3 weeks strike action against planned redundancies and possible site closure. The 500 jobs at Barnoldswick are some of the last high-quality manufacturing jobs left in East Lancashire. |
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Optare strike suspended Optare has agreed to work with Unite to implement a future pay rise and other benefits for members. Unite News report 23-12-20 |
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1842 Great Strike Plaque Halifax
Listed Building Consent has been obtained for erecting a plaque - design below - on North Bridge, 
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Halifax commemorating the 1842 Great Strike. The plaque has now been ordered from the manufacturer. We intend to put the plaque up in Spring 2021 and (Covid-19 permitting) wish to organise a physical unveiling involving trades union activists and school students.
Calderdale Trades Council would like to thank BFAWU Suma branch, CWU Bradford Amalgamated Branch, CWU West Yorkshire branch, FBU West Yorkshire, GMB B05 Organising branch, Halifax Constituency Labour Party, J Harvey, NEU Calderdale District, RMT Leeds City branch, TSSA North East General branch, Unite NEYH Regional Committee, Unite NE Sec 2 branch, Unite NE/Geo/1 (Sheffield East) branch, Unite NE/Geo/22 Huddersfield, Unite NE/5 Leeds, Unite NE/209/1, Unite NE/302/11 Arriva Yorkshire Tiger branch, UNITE NE/401/14 branch, Unite NE/403/15 Not for profit branch, UNITE NE/Y/H407/6 branch for their generous donations towards our financial appeal. |
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Hands off HRI
Calderdale Trades Council has supported Hands off HRI since it was set up in 2016 to campaign against the closure or downgrading of hospitals or health services within the Huddersfield and Calderdale area, particularly against the planned closure of Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, it’s A&E department and acute services. Facebook Web site Our Save our NHS previous page includes articles about Hands Off HRI |
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The People’s Assembly Against Austerity has published a pamphlet: “In Place of Austerity – a programme for the people”. “It is essential that we, together with the Trade Unions, continue to build the mass movement further to force the Tories out of office, and to help elect and sustain a future anti-austerity progressive government – which, of course, would be under fierce attack by the bankers, big business monopoly corporations and their pet politicians and media. This is the clear aim of the People’s Assembly.”
This pamphlet is very useful can be used to win more people to an anti-austerity position, and convince them that there is a real, practical and achievable alternative. Download the updated pamphlet:
Morning Star review of the pamphlet:
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Sick of Being Skint? is Calderdale Trades Council’s contribution to the fight for all workers to be paid at least £10 per hour. We are urging workers, especially young workers, to press for better pay and conditions at work through joining a union.
In July 2017 Calderdale Trades Council has worked with USDAW taking ‘Sick of Being Skint?’ cards to the Lidl Supermarket in Sowerby Bridge and with BFAWU in Halifax Town Centre. |
During Heart Unions Week in February 2017 Calderdale Trades Council took ‘Sick of Being Skint?’ campaign postcards to over 60 workplaces in Halifax, Brighouse and Hartshead Moor Service Station.
Download a digital version of the postcard below:
Huddersfield Daily Examiner article 5 Feb 2017
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