THE VISIT TO THE MEET THE NEW REGIONAL TUC SECRETARY ROBERT JOHNSON TOOK PLACE IN NOVEMBER.
The Network Chair Mike McLoughlin and Secretary Sheena Gordon met the new TUC Regional Secretary Rob Johnson towards the end of November. This proved to be an important opportunity to meet the new secretary who has just recently taken over from his predecessor Cheryl Pidgeon, and to discuss a variety of issues with him. There was a lengthy discussion around where the Network had got to in terms of developing a viable organisation, and the difficulties that we have experienced from time to time in not being able to communicate with trade union members right across the Region. Mike indicated that when he had been invited to address the Regional TUC Executive back in April, that it had been very positive and that he had been well received, and felt that this type of invitation should be repeated when it would prove useful.
Sheena made the point that we have great difficulty in getting our materials and information through the union structures, to the individual members. Rob stated that we can have our minutes and other relevant materials put on the TUC website, if we forward them to the office. Mike pointed out that not all members had computers, and that many of those that did, rarely if ever visited web sites, he stressed that very few trade unionist visited the Retired Members Midlands blog, although it attracted visitors from Canada, USA, China, India, Germany, France etc. It was his view that we also had to make use of old traditional means of communications as well as using electronic methods. Rob went on to state that the TUC could give us practical assistance by printing and helping to distribute leaflets that we design, this material could also be put on the website.
We went on to have a discussion around the issues involved in the forthcoming November 30th strike day on pensions. Rob Indicated that in his view there was going to be a very good response right across the region on November 30th. Mike stated that a lot of work had gone in to trying to get as many pensioners as possible involved in the preparation for the day, as we we very keen to develop a strong alliance between those still in work and retired members. Our efforts had only been partially successful, we were able to get a speaker on the platform at Nottingham and Derby, in other areas we were much less successful. It is very important that we continue to build a solid working relationship between those in work and those who are retired. It was stated that sometime in the near future we would be seeking Rob's assistance in circulating a financial appeal for the Network, as one of the things that we badly is a suitable banner.
Top Photograph L to R Robert Johnson Midlands Regional TUC Secretary and Sheena Gordon TUC Pensioners Network Secretary. bottom photograph L to R Robert Johnson and Mike McLoughlin TUC Pensioners Network Chair.
Mike & Sheena were very pleased with the meeting as it had proved to be very useful and would be repeated from time to tme as necessary.
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