Bulletin No 3. June 2000

· Hope Street - Following the completion of the top 2 floors a small team of volunteers and committee members have now started work on the ground floor and basement areas. As we have said in previous bulletins, the sooner that these parts of the building are complete, the sooner we will be able to generate a steady and regular source of income. Which in turn will help us all in determining our long-term future.

· International Dockers Conference - Is all set for Tenerife June 26th - 28th and the Initiative Factory will be represented there.

· Affiliated and Honorory Membership - Has now been opened to supporters locally and internationally, either on a group or and individual basis. Forms are available from the committee.

· Hardman Street CD-ROM Course - Participants won acclaim from government ministers for their diversification into Adult Education and the world of Information Technology. The theme was taken up by Granada Television through series of interviews with the individuals concerned.

· BAFTA Awards - The Writers Workshop and representatives from the committee attended the film and television awards ceremony in London last month. Our film the 'Dockers' was nominated for an award in the best drama category. · Canada Film Festival - Tony Weedon represented the Initiative Factory at 'Imput 2000', which was held in Halifax Nova Scotia. Over 1000 delegates from the film and media industry where in attendance, looking to purchase or commission new programmes for film and television. Our film the ' Dockers ' and the documentary ' Writing The Wrongs ' were well received and a number of very useful contacts were made .

· Dockers DVD - In partnership with Parallax Pictures, Planet Wild and Channel 4. We've been invited to take part in a pilot programme covering the dispute, the dock industry, the film, the documentary and what has happened to individuals since the dispute ended. Anyone interested in participating can give his or her name to the committee at the end of the meeting.

· Pensions - On behalf of the FRDW pension fund, Jim Nolan wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer regarding the removal of tax concessions. Which led to £34m being removed from the fund. The matter was passed on from the Chancellor to the offices of the Inland Revenue and they have now replied, stating basically 'there is nothing that they can do'.

· Messages of solidarity - Were sent to the Kavaerner Workers in Scotland, who are fighting against further job losses in the shipbuilding industry. - The Liverpool City Council Workers who are opposing mass redundancies and reductions in services throughout the city. - And Mariam Kamish who was disgracefully sacked from her job in Cardiff, for what her bosses describe as 'carrying out trade union activities'. We also attended a demonstration in Cardiff on the 13th June, calling for the reinstatement of Mariam and full trade union rights and recognition for her members.

· Retired Dockers. - The Annual Day Out took place on the 2nd June and went off extremely well. Once again the welfare committee would like to thank all concerned for their help and support.

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