Partially completed Novotel hotel, surrounded by scaffolding.

Union officials from Denmark and Wolverhampton looking at part of a new Novotel hotel complex, as part of a study visit organised by the Trades Union Congress. In the centre of the photograph are Pearl Fellows and Christian Hjorth of the Danish Bricklayer

With the support of the trades council, the Transport and General Workers Union organised picketing and strikes demanding that the curtain manufacturers recognised union membership, after two colleagues were sacked for alleged union recruiting. Birmingham

The firm was preparing for expansion into Eastern Europe with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Soviet Union and Poland are mentioned.

Banner.

The photograph shows a group of workers at a strike meeting with union leaders on a podium.

A peaceful protest was organised by the Wolverhampton district committee of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers and the Save Bilston Campaign over union recognition. Sedgley is mentioned.

Housing repairs were halted and dustbin collections in Aldridge stopped as workers walked out on strike over bonus payments. Willenhall, the National Union of Public Employees, the General and Municipal Workers’ Union and Kevin Mears are mentioned.

The photograph shows a group of workers at a strike meeting in the snow, with union leaders on a podium.

New blanking line at Bilston. David Ashwell is mentioned.