The Birmingham Trades Council is as part of a long established tradition celebrating May Day as it has done over many decades. However, for the second year running the celebrations would be over zoom. In 2020, we were unsure how the pendemic would impact the Trades Council and its affiliates. In 2021, we are fairly sure about the direction of travel as far as the Trade Union movement and the communities BTUC serves. We have already seen the impact in terms of job losses, cuts in our affiliate members wages and detoriarating working conditions. We have seen the “Fire & Hire” by employers in the health and energy sectors. We have also seen the introduction of the Police Bill that aims to restrict our ability to organize and protest against some of the draconian measures the the employers intend taking against the various sections of the working classes over the next few years.

Zoom Meeting ID 853 2714 5707, Passcode 649171

Join the Zoom meeting

We therefore, intend to use this May Day to reflect what we have faced over the last two years and what draconian measures we may anticipate against us as the movement here and internationally.

We have identified four areas of concern. They are

• Jobs Crisis
• Covid Zero
• Violence against Women, state oppression and Equality issues
• International and Neo Liberal policies

We have invited 4 key speakers one on each of the subjects above. Following their talks, we will split up into 4 Break out rooms where a discussion will follow for around 30 minutes. Each break out room will come back with suggestions of how the Trades Council should propose tackling these four areas of concern over the rest of 2021.

We will be publishing the names of those invited over the next few days once they are confirmed. We hope you will join us and be part of the discussion on how we can confront the draconian measures we can expect following the Covid-19 crisis.

Zoom meeting 12.30pm Wed, 28 April 2021

Zoom Meeting ID 869 3191 1126

Passcode: 567742

Alternatively dial 0203 901 7895

When prompted enter meeting ID 869 3191 1126 & Passcode 567742

Speakers, including bereaved relatives:

Tracy Edwards, National Health & Safety Officer PCS

Su Lowe, Unite the Union, West Mids lead officer for Health

Ravi Subramanian, West Mids UNISON Regional Secretary

Lee Barron, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary

John Blunt, trustee Asbestos Support Central England

Kathy Gaffney, Sec West Midlands Hazards Trust

Ian Scott, President Birmingham Trades Union Council

Neil Bishop, manager Asbestos Support Central England

Birmingham Trades Union Council (BTUC) invites you to our International Women’s Day (IWD) event. For this event, we aim to reflect on the origins of IWD by commemorating working women and their important role within the labour movement. We will also be discussing the importance of women not only as key organizers of the movement but their role in providing the bulk of reproductive labour for society. We invite you all to join the discussion.The event will first show the film ‘Norma Rae’ (1979) to later continue with a Q&A with key local speakers (TBC)The event will be on Sunday 7th March 2021 at 4pmJoin Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88021957251…Meeting ID: 880 2195 7251
Passcode: 986105
One tap mobile
+442039017895,,88021957251#,,,,*986105# United Kingdom
+441314601196,,88021957251#,,,,*986105# United KingdomDial by your location
+44 203 901 7895 United Kingdom
+44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
+44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
Meeting ID: 880 2195 7251
Passcode: 986105Please note that the Q+A portion of this event will be recorded. If you do not wish to be recorded please ensure your camera is not on and that you are muted. You will still be able to ask questions through the chat function. 

The death of George Floyd while being arrested by the Police force in the US highlighted institutional racism within the police force and other state institutions. The accused police officer had previously been fifteen complaints of abuse over his twenty year career. This has resulted in demands de-funding the police force eradicating racism within institutions of the state.

Similar incidences, with multiple deaths in custody in this country, including in Birmingham suggest significant presence of institutional racism within our state institutions and in particular within the police and judicial services.

Birmingham Trades Union Council has organised a meeting the issues around racism and we can help combat racism in all its form and in particular within our institutions and societal structures.

Join Zoom Meeting by following the link below
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89550888818?pwd=S2o3SWdhekxrRGc3WjMydit0Q3JoUT09

Alternatively, you can dial one of the numbers listed below
+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdoma nd enter the details as prompted
Meeting ID: 895 5088 8818
Password: 027430

Birmingham Trades Union Congress is holding a zoom meeting on Saturday the 2nd of May 2 pm

The meeting is held under unprecedented circumstances with most of the country under lock down. Over 27000 deaths attributed to the corona virus over a month. Our health services unable to cope and health workers workers life threatening conditions because of lack of PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).

Main speakers will discuss our social and health care services and their dire state as a consequence of a decade of austerity and how we should help rebuild these services post corona crisis.

Please join us to discuss how the Trade Union and Labour movements should respond to these conditions.

You can join the meeting by following instructions below.

To join the meeting click here

Alternatively use the Meeting ID: 881 7606 4453 and Password: 022130 within zoom to join the meeting.

Alternatively, ring one of the numbers below

0203 481 5240 and use the meeting credentials below to join (note you will not have any video available
Meeting ID: 881 7606 4453
Password: 022130

We invite you to join an IWMD rally by Zoom at 12.30 on Tues, 28 April, hosted by Birmingham TUC, can join via www.btuc.org or by clinking this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83966793999?pwd=TGpnSzhyOXl4Z3pTa01udEtYSldlUT0:

Alternatively, from your phone (mobile or landline) Dial one of the numbers below and enter meeting id(839 6679 1196) and password(
030016) when requested.
+44 203 051 2874 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5237 United Kingdom
+44 203 481 5240 United Kingdom
+44 131 460 1196 United Kingdom
Meeting ID: 839 6679 3999
Password: 030016

Please send IWMD pictures to your TU, #IWMD20, #MidsIWMD, & local Facebook pages for MidsIWMD; Midlands TUC Health & Safety Forum; & Birmingham Trades Council & West Midlands Coronavirus Action Group

please send pictures & videos locally to the following Facebook pages MidsIWMD or Twitter #MidsIWMD, nationally to #IWMD20 and to your unions & to Birmingham Trades Council at btucsec@hotmail.com