For the first time in many years, if not decades, Radstock area trade unionists in different workplaces and different trade unions have the opportunity to join together in a local Trade Union Council.

The newly-formed Mendip TUC is hosting a meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 29th May, at Radstock Workingmen’s Club, The Street, BA3 3PR.

All local people who are trade union members in Unite, UNISON, GMB, USDAW, NEU, NASUWT, PCS, CWU, UCU, Prospect, BECTU/Prospect, FBU, NUJ, RMT, ASLEF, MU, Equity, and others, are welcome to attend.

Dave Chapple, South West TUC Trades Councils’ Rep, who is organising the meeting, said: “We hope that the meeting will be a little piece of working-class history. For decades, the towns of Radstock, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, and their surrounding villages, have been so neglected by employers and Governments that they have been largely de-industrialised.

“This is particularly true of the larger factories that enjoyed trade union recognition, and as a result, reasonable wages and conditions for their workers.

“However, Somerset trade unionists are resilient, have survived, and are still out there, organising, negotiating and generally, fighting hard for their members’ rights at work.”