TRADE UNIONS - WHO NEEDS THEM? Halifax public meeting

TRADE UNIONS - WHO NEEDS THEM? 

Joint trade union and Halifax Labour Party public meeting 

Queens Road Neighbourhood Centre, Halifax HX1 4PH

Wednesday 13 March 

7pm prompt start

Speakers to include Unite’s Mohammad Taj, retired bus driver and former Trades Union Congress (TUC)  President, GMB regional organiser Jake O’Malley and Park Ward Labour councillor Faisal Shoukat. 

As the biggest organisations in Britain, trade unions negotiate with employers in order to help protect and improve workplace rights, boost wages, create safer workplaces and represent their members at disciplinary and grievance hearings. 

Trade unions also promote the interests of members by attempting to influence those who make political decisions. This has led to improvements in safety laws and welfare benefits. The Labour Party was formed by trade unions and socialist societies and many unions are affiliated to the Party.

Born in Kashmir, Mohammad Taj, a TGWU/Unite member, was a Bradford bus driver for over forty years. In 2013/14 he was the first elected South Asian President of the TUC, which represents the majority of the trade unions. At the meeting he will be speaking about his role and how it was possible by working with other union members to radically improve wages, terms and conditions and health and safety. Taj will also speak about his struggles against racism. @tucpresidenttaj 

Jake O’Malley is a GMB regional organiser with responsibilities for retail, young members and the smart metering industry. He was the senior rep in Sheffield on the outsourced Amey private finance initiative contract for 5 years. @jakeomalley3

Faisal Shoukat was first elected as a Labour councillor for Park ward in 2011 and is standing for re-election in May. He is a cabinet member at Calderdale council with responsibility for public health and inequalities.

Written by Mark Metcalf, a free 56-page booklet on Mohammad Taj will be available at the event. There will also be stalls containing trade union literature.

The meeting is being co-ordinated by Mark Metcalf, trade union liaison officer for Halifax Constituency Labour Party. For more details contact Mark on 07392 852561 or at mcmetcalf@icloud.com @markmetcalf07