campaigning with unions in Burton

23.02.09 - Ruth Smeeth

I'm Ruth Smeeth, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Burton in the Midlands.

I am also a proud and active trade unionist. In 2007, Burton-on-Trent was designated the average British town by the BBC. The reality is that my constituency is anything but average! Burton encompasses 2 towns and over 20 villages. We have a huge range of industries and several very large employers; from the breweries to JCB and the local NHS Trust. As such we have a proud tradition of strong trade unionism and many active branches.

As an aspiring politician, the greatest challenge is engaging with the local community and making sure that you are highlighting issues that really matter to working people. This is even more important in the current economic environment. As a committed, lifelong trade unionist my relationship with my local unions, convenors, stewards and members has meant that not only do I have a good understanding of the issues facing families across East Staffordshire, but I also can offer practical solutions to the challenges we face together.

At the moment, in partnership with UNITE, I am campaigning to save the Fox's Biscuits factory in Uttoxeter. Our campaign aims to save 950 jobs and over 600 UNITE members and is symbolic of the relationship which can and should exist between the Labour Party and the wider labour movement.

I'll regularly be contributing to unionstogether.org.uk, and hope to keep you up-to-date about the important campaigning work I am doing with the unions in Burton.

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