Summary Minutes of Branch Meeting 310725

The July branch meeting of GMB Northants Community Branch (C51) took place on Thursday the 31st July 2025 at 7pm on Zoom. 

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Below are the summary minutes of the meeting. A full copy of the minutes are circulated to attendees and available on request from the branch secretary

​A PDF file copy of the July Summary Minutes are here

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Summary Minutes 31st July 2025

Matters Arising

• Highland Gathering update – asking for the advert to be paid for in the programme.  Update to be given.
• Corby the Wasted Years.  Now printed.  GMP region contributed to printed copies. 
• Retired members – Two resolutions to National conference 2025. 
• Branch attendance – focus on workplace reps attending.
• Possible payment  to Corby/Kettering Read Easy – to receive payment from the branch along same lines as we do with Food banks.  Consult with Gordon.
• Future committee meeting to be called as and when required. 

 
Correspondence.

• Martin Allen – Vacancies.
• Members enquiries. 
• 38 Degrees – various topics.
• Banner theatre, Workers in Italy.
• East Midlands LP – First Year in Government.
• South Yorkshire Festival. Wortley Hall, 1st August.
• Rachelle – membership enquiry.
• TUC – union reps, news webinar.
• Adrian – website update.
• Cuba Solidarity – update.
• Kettering Home Start. 
• Finbar – Corby LP delegation.  Tom Beattie.
• Jan Stoker – members arising.
• TUC Secretary – Paul Novak – Megaphone – Palestine.
• AVAAZ – Gaza Action.
• Midland Education – RA Courses.
• Martin Allen – vacancy.
• Labour Party – First Year in Office.
• 38 Degrees – NHS.
• Adrian, invoice – digital communications.
• Sarah James, RMA meeting 24th September.
• EMLP – update.
• Kettering Home Start.
• Finbar – “We are the Lions” Grunwick.
• TUC – Union Rep Connect.  NEC B/Ham, 15th October.

 
Branch Secretary’s Report
Secretary reported a pretty busy month with member representation and trying to organise the Highland Games, which, as it turned out didn’t happen. 
 
Presidents Report:

• Not a great deal this month from a union perspective but expect to be busy going forward.
• Will be attending the Retired Members conference in London in October 2025.
• Very busy in my role on the Council and recently nominated to the CLP EC, W/borough and union liaison officer. 
• Also, the Police Liaison Officer, which keeps me very busy, with drop-in sessions organised locally.

 
Digital Communication Office
Website activity (GA4) for last 30 days: we had 276 (+33) website visits (sessions) by 217 (+42) people (users)
News Items Added to Website:
GMB Congress 2025 interview
GMB Union Retired Members
GMB recruitment event in Asda Kettering June 2025
GMB Northants At Congress 2025
Summary Minutes of Branch Meeting 260625
Results of 2025 Branch Elections
Do you have what it takes
July 2025 GMB Northants Branch Meeting
Regional Retired Members meeting September 2025
 
Read Easy added to Sponsorship page
Contact page updated with new officers.

WhatsApp Group has 49 (+1) members
The July Email Newsletter was sent out on Friday 25Th July to 1,752 members (June members list) and has been opened by 715 members, a 40.8% opening rate
X / Twitter: 790 (+5) Followers.
Facebook: 475 (+5) Followers. Last 28 days: Posts Views 656 (+70%) seen (reach) by 182 (+89.6%) people.
YouTube 22 Subscribers.  Last 28 days- views: 189 (+159)
Latest Content:  Congress Interview – 89 views, At Congress – 70 views, Recruitment – 60 views
 
Equality Officers Report

• Pat reported on the recent regional equality’s forum meeting. 
• Interview with Jeremy Corbyn, who has declared that he will be supporting the WASPI women which is appealing to a lot of WASPI women. 
• Requests to turn up at events locally -, e.g, Pride.  One in Lincoln this month.  Corby one didn’t take place. 
• Pat expressed her disappointment that region have still not aired The Planks Gave Way.  Agreed the Pat should take to the Regional Health and Safety Committee. 

 
Youth Officers Report
Not much going on. Verena reported on what was happening at her workplace, re. NHS pay negotiations and Mental Health professionals. 
 
Regional Organisers Report

• Rachelle offered a comprehensive and detailed report on the following workplaces:
• Matalan.
• NNC.
• WNC.
• Schools.
• ASDA.
• Norse.
• St Andrews, Northampton.
• KGH.
• Rachelle was thanked for all her work with a busy workload.
• Alan reported on his meeting with the local MPs and unions recently. 

 
Accompanying Reps Report (ARs)

• Busy month with significant representation and advice given via phone calls and Teams meetings.  Interesting cases coming forward that the Secretary elaborated on. 
• Neil reported on a recent grievance he had represented.

 
Workplace Report. (Neil)

• Neil gave a report from his  workplace on their recent health and safety forum attendance with a good Q&A session.
• Report on Hazards conference in September – travel to be covered by branch.
• Social media update – interviews etc.  Good to see the increase in subscribers!
• Report on the TUC webinars attended.
• In-house report on activity in the store (ASDA).
• Secretary reported that he had written to Maggie about providing a report when she can’t attend the meetings. 
• Welcomed report from Tom Beattie from the CCLP.

 
 Any Other Business

• Interesting comments on the new left political party.  Will follow with interest!
• Apparently our Gen Secretary will be visiting the Corby Highland Gathering in 2026. 
• WASPI update from Pat. 
• Magistrate Court update, Northants.

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