WFTC invited Extinction Rebellion (XR) to an Open Forum on July 2nd. Around 35 attended – trade unionists, XR activists, campaigners from Save Our Square, Socialist and Labour Party members, and some just along to find out what’s going on. The meeting started with Samantha Mason of GMB leading the discussion. Then Kevin Wing of XR outlined their plans. After many contributions from the floor we decided to support the call for trade union action on September 20th.

So, WFTC will be doing what we can to encourage workers to pressure unions to call more national action on Sept 20th on the Climate Emergency. Meantime, we will collaborate with XR about local activities in W. Forest for the day itself.

Two Climate Events in Waltham Forest…

Waltham Forest Trade Union Council hosted two important events in the calendar of the labour and trade union movement in Abbotts Park in Leyton.

People gathered to mark Workers Memorial Day, held every year on April 28th, to pay tribute to workers killed, injured, disabled and made unwell by their work. Workers like young Marian Nemit killed when a wall fell on him at a job near the Bakers Arms and Raymond Holmes who was killed working on the Thames Water site in Coppermill. Raymond’s wife and daughter sent the Trades Council a note of thanks for remembering him and for keeping up the tradition. The motto for the day is Remember the dead and fight for the living.

John Cryer MP for Leyton and Wanstead promised “a Labour government will really strengthen health and safety legislation.”

A minute’s silence was observed to remember all workers everywhere who’ve died over the past year.… Read on ...