Successful West Mids NSSN Conference

17 October More than 30 trade unionists attended the West Midlands conference of the NSSN held in Birmingham on Saturday. It marked another positive step forward for the NSSN. The first session of the day heard introductions from Rob Williams, chair of the Network, and Sian Ruddick chair of the PCS in the Midlands.

Both speakers outlined the current situation, with unions gearing up to take action on 30th November. A wide ranging discussion followed, with activists from many different unions reporting on the struggles taking place, and the role the NSSN has played in fighting for co-ordinated action, and what we can do to make 30th November a success.

After the lunch break, the conference split up in to two workshop sessions - one on strengthening unions where they already exist, and the other on building unions where there is none. These were excellent discussions - activists from the shop floor exchanging ideas, experiences and practical advice on organising. 

The conference then came back together for the final session - building the NSSN for the battles ahead. The NSSN has come in to its own and is gaining increasing authority in both the public and private sector unions. 

This was an excellent conference with activists from the following unions attending - Unite, Unison, CWU, NUT, PCS, RMT, ASLEF, FDA. A delegation of Unite members from Remploy in Staffordshire formally thanked the NSSN for the support they have received. The NSSN looks forward to continuing to supporting the Remploy workers, as well as all workers in struggle, and helping to build and rebuild union organisation as we fight every attack on terms and conditions, every job loss and every cut thrown at us.

NSSN supporters in the lunch break and after the conference also visited the Occupy Birmingham protest showing solidarity and making links.