Here are the Summary Minutes of the GMB Northants Union Branch meeting that took place on the 29th November 2017 in Corby
You can also download and print a PDF copy of the minutes here
You can also download and print a PDF copy of the minutes here
GMB NORTHANTS COMMUNITY BRANCH
SUMMARY MINUTES OF THE BRANCH MEETING HELD ON 29.11.17
The secretary and president had met with Rachelle to discuss the development plan. No great changes, the main focus of the branch will be on improving communication with members. Rachelle will be working with a new recruitment officer.
It will be ok for Adrian to have the branch membership list.
It was agreed to affiliate to the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign.
Nominations for Congress: It was agreed to nominate Martyn.
Motions for Congress. The secretary suggested the motion to congress that would instruct the GMB to look at a name change and find a name that doesn’t get confused with an early morning TV programme. It was agreed to go ahead with this if no other suitable proposals come forward.
The secretary is still having problems with the way region is not consulting the branch over selection of labour party candidates for parliament. There has at no time been any attempt to inform us or ask for our views. If there is no satisfactory response from the political officer we will have to refer the matter to the regional committee.
It was agreed to make a donation to the Ex-Servicemen’s Club for the use of a room for meetings.
Some diaries were given to members attending. The rest will be sent to activists in the branch.
The secretary will be sending out a letter to all members before the next meeting in January. This will follow the same format as before with the addition of an appeal for labour party members to become delegates to their constituency labour parties, and info on the credit union. He has sent out a welcome letter to 50 new members.
The branch finances remain healthy
Jackie and Maggie had attended the Regional Council meeting. A report had been given about the effects of universal credit. Some workers especially in retail are pressurised to do overtime at this time of year which means they go over the cut off point for universal credit and have to wait for four to six weeks to have it restored. This can mean that they use payday credit companies like Wonga and have to pay back at enormous interest rates. We must start trying to get our members to join the GMB Credit Union where members can, if they run into trouble, get loans at reasonable rates.
The GMB head office is to be renamed Mary Turner House, in honour of our late president. Andy Worth suggested that the Eleanor Marx award should be renamed after Mary.
Everything is up to date on the website and social media. Now that Adrian has access to the membership list he is hoping we will be able to tailor our output to members more closely to their profile.
Martyn is still concerned about the possible impact of Brexit and universal credits on the less well off members of society.
There is still some concern that another union might be trying to recruit his members. There is still a problem about getting all members together for a meeting concerning the merger between Corby and Kettering councils refuse and grounds maintenance depts. Will wages be affected and what about redundancies? Rachelle has said she will be meeting Kettering Borough officers and Corby workers.
Paying back fees owed to people who had been wrongly charged by the government for taken employers to tribunal is going ahead. If anyone is having trouble getting a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Martyn has some expertise in that area and is willing to help at no cost. There is a link on the website.
Some progress has been made about the National Living wage at Accuma but Rajko still feels that it is not clear what is being paid. Some work needs to be done. There is another meeting with management scheduled for December.
Florence was concerned that as the GMB has no reps at Kettering General Hospital there might be a problem getting representation if necessary. She was assured that we have reps outside the hospital who would come in if required.
It was agreed that we pay £250 towards Corby Night Shelter to help over the Christmas period.
It will be ok for Adrian to have the branch membership list.
It was agreed to affiliate to the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign.
Nominations for Congress: It was agreed to nominate Martyn.
Motions for Congress. The secretary suggested the motion to congress that would instruct the GMB to look at a name change and find a name that doesn’t get confused with an early morning TV programme. It was agreed to go ahead with this if no other suitable proposals come forward.
The secretary is still having problems with the way region is not consulting the branch over selection of labour party candidates for parliament. There has at no time been any attempt to inform us or ask for our views. If there is no satisfactory response from the political officer we will have to refer the matter to the regional committee.
It was agreed to make a donation to the Ex-Servicemen’s Club for the use of a room for meetings.
Some diaries were given to members attending. The rest will be sent to activists in the branch.
The secretary will be sending out a letter to all members before the next meeting in January. This will follow the same format as before with the addition of an appeal for labour party members to become delegates to their constituency labour parties, and info on the credit union. He has sent out a welcome letter to 50 new members.
The branch finances remain healthy
Jackie and Maggie had attended the Regional Council meeting. A report had been given about the effects of universal credit. Some workers especially in retail are pressurised to do overtime at this time of year which means they go over the cut off point for universal credit and have to wait for four to six weeks to have it restored. This can mean that they use payday credit companies like Wonga and have to pay back at enormous interest rates. We must start trying to get our members to join the GMB Credit Union where members can, if they run into trouble, get loans at reasonable rates.
The GMB head office is to be renamed Mary Turner House, in honour of our late president. Andy Worth suggested that the Eleanor Marx award should be renamed after Mary.
Everything is up to date on the website and social media. Now that Adrian has access to the membership list he is hoping we will be able to tailor our output to members more closely to their profile.
Martyn is still concerned about the possible impact of Brexit and universal credits on the less well off members of society.
There is still some concern that another union might be trying to recruit his members. There is still a problem about getting all members together for a meeting concerning the merger between Corby and Kettering councils refuse and grounds maintenance depts. Will wages be affected and what about redundancies? Rachelle has said she will be meeting Kettering Borough officers and Corby workers.
Paying back fees owed to people who had been wrongly charged by the government for taken employers to tribunal is going ahead. If anyone is having trouble getting a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Martyn has some expertise in that area and is willing to help at no cost. There is a link on the website.
Some progress has been made about the National Living wage at Accuma but Rajko still feels that it is not clear what is being paid. Some work needs to be done. There is another meeting with management scheduled for December.
Florence was concerned that as the GMB has no reps at Kettering General Hospital there might be a problem getting representation if necessary. She was assured that we have reps outside the hospital who would come in if required.
It was agreed that we pay £250 towards Corby Night Shelter to help over the Christmas period.
| summary_minutes_291117.pdf |
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