Flavour of Meeting of Harlow TUC 13 October 2000

A discussion took place on the Euro Debate we had organised last month. For a report on the debate, Click here.

Decided to postpone Seminar on the History of the Labour & Trade Union Movement by Stan Newens until early in the new year. We hope to include local schools in the organisation of the event.

Considerable concern was expressed at the suspension of Danny Purton from his Harlow Council job at half hours notice (to read article from Harlow STAR, Click here). Danny is a prominant trade union activist not only in Harlow Council UNISON branch but also with Harlow TUC over the past 3 decades and in the trade union movement generally, both locally and nationally). With the Council reporting the suspension in the local press and with financial impropriety not being specifically ruled out (there was none), it could be interpreted as a smear not only on Danny himself but also on the local trade union movement. Harlow TUC has complete confidence that Danny will be fully vindicated (we have some background knowledge to the spurious allegations) and agreed to give full backing to his UNISON branch in their fight to get him reinstated.

There was a request for Harlow TUC to be involved in the organizing committee for next May Day's festivities in the town. We had reluctantly agreed to support it last May (at short notice) despite the organizing committee refusing to change its name from 'Carnival against Capitalism' to something more positive. General agreement was that May Day (being workers day) is meant to be a positive event, pointing to a better type of society. It is also meant to be a celebration of the struggles of the organized working class to this end. With plenty of time before next May, it was decided that we would only support the event next year provided it changed its name to something better reflecting the nature of the day. The organizing committee would be informed of this decision and requested to change its name accordingly.

If you have a comment to make about issues raised at this meeting, Click here.