Bulletin No.1
To all shop stewards, workplace representatives, trade councils and trade union activists:
Dear Colleagues,
Sisters and Brothers,
We invite you to attend the Founding Conference of the National Shop Stewards’ Network at South Camden Community School, Charrington Street, London NW1 1RG from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 7 July.
The movement for a national shop stewards’ and workplace representatives’ grass-roots network was started at a conference last October called by the RMT union with the support of the TGWU, CWU, PCS, NUJ, NUM, CYWU, FBU, POA and BFAWU. A Steering Committee was elected and entrusted with the task of organising the Founding Conference.
You can find further material explaining the importance of the Founding Conference and the National Shop Stewards’ Network itself at our website www.shopstewards.net. Many workplace representatives and local trade union activists feel the need to link up with others to pool experiences and strengthen the organisational sinews of the movement. Improving the involvement and participation of workplace members can only extend the influence of the trade union movement as a whole and increase its ability to defend its members’ interests.
We urge your organisation to sponsor the conference and send delegates. We suggest a minimum sponsorship of £50 and are charging £5 per delegate towards the cost of organising the event. Local union activists will also be welcome at the conference as visitors. In cases of real hardship, please contact the Steering Committee for assistance in attending. Please let us know as early as possible in advance if you wish to use the crèche.
Yours fraternally,
Linda Taaffe (pp. Greg Tucker)
Steering Committee:
Greg Tucker (RMT), Andy Littlechild (RMT), Katrine Williams (PCS).
Rob Williams (Unite TGWU section), Dave Chapple (CWU), Ian Allinson (Unite Amicus section), Len Hockey (Unison Health), George Binette (Unison Local Government), Linda Taaffe (NUT), Jane Bassett (NUT), Jimmy Nolan (Unite TGWU section) (all in a personal capacity).
Bob Archer (NUT), Bill Mullins (NUJ) co-optees (both in a
personal capacity).