Battersea and Wandsworth Trades Union Council

Proud to announce one of our young member panellist, Seamus Farrell.

"Theme: Housing, industrial relations, EU"
https://redflagfestival.com/schedule

Seamus Farrell has worked as a mental health support worker, community worker and education facilitator and has been involved in grassroots community housing organising since 2014, organising with the Irish Housing Network and Take Back the City.
In 2019 Seamus helped set up the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU). CATU has built a unique combination of grassroots democracy, community organising and direction into a large member organisation to tackle the housing and community crisis we face, in a few short years. Seamus is now an organiser with the union.

Proud to announce one of our young member panellist, Darragh Ó Dúil.
"Theme: Housing, industrial relations, EU"

https://redflagfestival.com/schedule

Darragh Ó Dúil is a 3rd year law student at Maynooth University and a delegate to the ICTU Youth Committee on behalf of the Meath Council of Trade Union. A proud Gaelgóir and political activist, he brings a socialist and student perspective.
Darragh hopes to keep the Red Flag flying for his fellow students and young people to prepare for the next generation.

Proud to announce one of our young member panellist, Tiernan Murray.
"Theme: Housing, industrial relations, EU"

https://redflagfestival.com/schedule

Tiernan Murray is a member of the Financial Services Union and a Meath Council of Trade Unions delegate to the ICTU Youth Committee. A long-time trade union and political activist, he brings a Socialist and Republican perspective to contemporary political events.
Now Co-Chair of Navan Sinn Féin, Tiernan hopes to keep the Red Flag flying over a 32 County Democratic Socialist Republic, as proclaimed in 1916.

Proud to announce our Moderator for the young member panellist, Leonie Cooper.

"Theme: Housing, industrial relations, EU"

https://redflagfestival.com/schedule
Leonie Cooper AM was elected to the London Assembly in May 2016 and has been Labour’s lead on Environment and Energy since then. She is also the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.
Leonie has successfully campaigned on reducing single-use plastic bottle waste in London, leading to the Mayor’s programme of water fountains and work with Refill London.
She has also helped tackle Londoners’ fuel poverty. Her campaigning led to the first ever Mayoral Fuel Poverty Strategy.
She produced her own report on biodiversity in housing developments which led to the London Plan including Biodiversity Net Gain as a Planning Principle 3 years before it was introduced nationally. Her report also led to the inclusion of the Urban Greening Factor in the London Plan.
Leonie has led a number of campaigns, including holding Thames Water to account for poor performance, campaigning for clean air in our city and arguing for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies to support Londoners with energy bills.

Leonie is a Union member and delegate to the Battersea & Wandsworth Trades Union Council.

Proud to announce one of our young member panellist, Carol Mc Sherry.
"Theme: Housing, industrial relations, EU"
https://redflagfestival.com/schedule

Carol Mc Sherry has worked as a Special Needs Assistant for 24 years in a primary school in County Meath. Before that, she worked in banking. She was elected as Equality officer on her Fórsa Union branch, the North Dublin, North Leinster SNA branch in January 2020. Since then, she has completed three years as the Chairperson of that branch, and is now back in her preferred role as the Equality and Training Officer. Carol is also on the National Executive Committee of Fórsa Union and recently became the Vice Chair of the Education Divisional Committee.

She is a proud member of the Meath Trades Council and believes that Trades Councils are an untapped resource in Trade Unionism, although thanks to the hard work of many, increasingly their work is being recognised. Thanks to the Meath Trades Council, she is on the Meath Strategic Policy Council for Economic Development, Enterprise, Tourism, EU Affairs and Rural Regeneration. She completed a course in Maynooth University on Community Development for Climate Justice and Feminism in 2024.

She has brought successful motions on safe access zones, assault leave for SNAs, housing and has a pending motion on improving membership benefits for parents with a critically ill child for the Fórsa bi-annual conference in May 2026.

As Ireland prepares to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, this is an opportunity for Trade Unions in Ireland to address the Irish laws governing them, some of which must be improved in order to comply with an EU directive. It has never been so important not only to join a Trade Union but to also play a part in the strengthening it.

I am deeply saddened to hear about the tragic murder of Sergei Krajev, a bus driver who was senselessly assaulted on Battersea Bridge while doing his job.

2026 International Red Flag Festival in Kells Each year, we unite under the international banner of the Red Flag Festival — and in 2026, the spirit of solidarity will be carried through Kells and Crossakiel.

*Labour Council Statement in relation to The Angel Pub in Roehampton*

Dear All,

Please see below, a statement regarding The Angel Pub in Roehampton.

BWTUC agreed to circulate the statement to counter misinformation about these issues.

There’s been a lot of concern about The Angel - both from people who value it as a local pub and from residents affected by crime and antisocial behaviour over several years.

A Licensing Sub-Committee (three councillors from other wards) met on 29 April to consider the case.

Fleur Anderson, Cllr Graeme Henderson and Cllr Matthew Tiller spoke on behalf of residents. We raised the history of serious incidents linked to the pub and the impact on neighbours. We also recognised recent improvements under new management, but stressed
the need for clear, enforceable safeguards.

After this, we were required to leave the hearing while the Sub-Committee heard detailed evidence from the Metropolitan Police and the licence holder, Punch Partnerships.

The Sub-Committee's decision has now been published:

https://democracy.wandsworth.gov.uk/.../Decision%20Notice...

Key points:

- The pub’s licence is suspended for 2 months

- This reflects past problems and allows time for refurbishment and staff training

New conditions include:

- stricter noise controls and a noise limiter

- doors/windows closed after 10pm during entertainment

- outdoor area closed after 10pm

- stronger supervision, safeguarding, and regular engagement with residents

We believe this is a fair, balanced decision - protecting residents while giving the pub a chance to become a positive part of the community again.

Thank you to everyone who has worked constructively to get to this point.

Please contact myself or Putney Labour if you have any questions in relation to the statement above.

Kind regards

Kath McDonnell
Assistant Secretary

https://bwtuc.org.uk/contact