CHAPTER hosts the first Wales TUC LGBT conference on Friday and Saturday, February 27, 28. The two-day event will involve high level guest speakers, lively interactive workshops and a chance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to not only talk about the issues affecting their lives but also to have some fun!

There will also be screenings of films that have been chosen as winners in the annual Iris Prize Festival which is held in Cardiff every year organised by the Festivals Company, other gay films that have been shortlisted for international film festivals and the BBC Wales programme that follows Ian H Watkins as the places in South Wales that forged his childhood.

AN exhibition by NUJ photographers will be open during the course of the conference along with those submitted by LGBT people across Wales. Both have the theme of LGBT lives in Wales in 2009. There is a £100 prize for the winning submitted photography courtesy of NUJ Cymru Wales.
For more information on entering the competition click here.

Only one session of the conference will be restricted to official LGBT delegates from affiliated trade unions – all the other events and the films, exhibitions and other social events to be advertised at Chapter are open to all.

For more details visit:
LGBT Conference 2009

The Wales TUC is working with Nottingham University to roll out an Equality Reps Survey across Wales.

The survey aims to gather information on the type of issues that reps deal with, and the level of training and support that is in place for reps who deal with equalities issues. It also hopes to identify the barriers that prevent equality reps from carrying out their role effectively.

The survey can be filled in by any rep who deals with equalities issues, even if they are not an official equality rep.

Please download the survey here:
Equality Reps Survey (word doc)

Either email back to nhirst@tuc.org.uk
or print out and post to:

Wales TUC
FREEPOST SWC4648
Cardiff
CF11 9GY

All replies will be treated confidentially.

Replies should be received by April 30th. However, surveys returned after that date will still be useful. Everyone will receive a summary of the main findings and a full report.

Please advertise this widely. Thank you very much for your help. The information from the survey will support us all in our campaign for statutory rights and recognition for the important role that equalities reps play in our branches and workplaces.

More more information please contact Natasha Hirst on
nhirst@tuc.org.uk

Seminar to discuss new challenges and solutions on equal pay: organised as part of the Wales Close the Pay Gap Campaign

This one day Equal Pay seminar will provide you with an update on recent legislation and provide practical examples of how other organisations have overcome the barriers to achieving equal pay for women and men. We shall facilitate you in developing a programme of action that is specific to your workplace with access to equality experts who can support you.

The seminar objectives are to:
• Provide up-to-date information about recent legal developments on equal pay
• Bring together employer and union reps to make progress in closing pay gap
• Strengthen employer-union partnerships through identifying barriers and solutions
• Develop workplace specific actions and supporting your leadership role
• Signpost practical follow up support for the employer-union partnerships.

You are encouraged to attend in partnership with your employer so that you can develop a shared understanding of the issues for your workplace and draft a programme of actions to take forward following the seminar. Individual applications are also welcomed.

The seminars are organised as part of the Close the Pay Gap Campaign, which is a partnership between the Wales TUC, EHRC and Welsh Assembly Government.

Seminars will take place in all parts of Wales on the following dates:

North and Mid Wales (Llandudno) 21st January
South West Wales (Camarthen) 29th January
South East Wales (Cardiff) 5th February

Please use the attached forms below (one for employers and one for reps) for applications and return no later than 2 weeks prior to your seminar date.

Contact Derek Walker on dwalker@tuc.org.uk for more information

Equal Pay Seminar Application form - Welsh (word doc)

Equal Pay Seminar Application form - English (word doc)