The November meeting of the GMB Northants Community Branch took place on Thursday the 24th November at 7pm on Zoom
Below are the summary minutes of the meeting. A full copy of the minutes are issued to attendees and are available on request from the branch secretary.
A PDF file copy of the November Summary Minutes are also here.
A PDF file copy of the November Summary Minutes are also here.
Summary Minutes of the Branch Meeting held on 24th November 2022
Correspondence.
Northants Journal.
Martin Allen, Senior Organisers post.
Speaking-up courses.
Various members letters asking for advice.
Several items of correspondence from the NPC.
Correspondence from Rachelle, Carers up-date.
International Transport Workers World’s worse boss!
Several items of correspondence from Gordon, (Secretary CTC), up-dates.
Several items of correspondence from WoW, Climate Summit, etc…
Northants Journal – Unitary Authority enquiry.
Constituency delegates, branch nominations agreed.
Northants Journal – agency staff.
Phil Roper – vacancy in the London Region.
Regional Committee minutes – August 2022.
Corby Trades Council – affiliation.
Northants Journal – rape and sexual attack crime figures.
TUC Equalities Conference.
Cheryl Evans – TUC Leadership Schools, LGBTQ+ and disability.
NPC.
Correspondence – West Unitary Authority, Invest in Qatar.
Nicaragua up-date.
Wortley Hall – shareholders meeting.
Equalities Officer – Disability History Month.
Region request for support for industrial action. – Agreed, £200 donation.
International Workers – up-date.
Correspondence from Pat Willmott – Right to Live.
Avazz – up-date, Iranian Women update.
WoW – Somalia update.
Secretary’s Report
Report on the Secretaries Cuban visit. Predominantly Unite activists on the trip. Cycle down the West coast was demanding. Very good cultural visit to blind school for children and meeting fellow trade unionists. Explained how bad the USA embargo is having in the country. Particularly the lack of food and how that is impacting on communities. Meeting with one of the Cuban 5 was a highlight of the trip. Agreed that I should arrange a special report in January 2023.
Labour Research details for interested activists – Secretary now has those details.
Attended picket line with RMT, support from the GMB.
Presidents Report
Regional Committee report. Members can request full details from either the President or the Secretary.
Employment Law certificate going well with now 50% of the course complete.
Digital Communications Report
Website activity for last 30 days: we had 115 (-40) website visits (sessions) by 98 (-25) people (users) and they viewed 365 (-123) pages.
News Items Added to Website:
REPS SPEAKING UP COURSES 29TH AND 30TH NOVEMBER 2022 SUMMARY OF BRANCH MEETING 271022 NOVEMBER 2022 BRANCH MEETING 2023 GMB NORTHANTS BRANCH MEETING DATES UNITE ACTIVISM TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS
The November email newsletter was sent out on Saturday 19th November to 1,550 members (September list) and has been opened by 634 members, a 40.9% opening rate
Equality Officers Report
Equalities Officer (EO) reported on a forthcoming disability conference, 30th November 2022.
New Equalities Officer – Sarah James.
EO reported that things have been slow to happen because of the changeover and the new appointment.
Hopefully something in the New Year (Women’s Conference) focused on the cost-of-living crisis.
Northants North will be choosing their Labour Party candidate soon.
“Clear the Streets for Women”. In Northampton 26th November.
Regional Organisers Report
Accompanying Reps Report
Secretary reported on recent cases.
Any Other Business
Election of an Organiser – Secretary seeking clarification on appointment procedures.
GG reported on the Corby Trades Council:
FTO informed the branch that the Unitary Councils have signed up to the ‘Dying to Work’ charter.
EO informed the branch that MPH would not sign up to the Charter when she was there 3 years ago.
Date of the next meeting: 26th January 2023
Northants Journal.
Martin Allen, Senior Organisers post.
Speaking-up courses.
Various members letters asking for advice.
Several items of correspondence from the NPC.
Correspondence from Rachelle, Carers up-date.
International Transport Workers World’s worse boss!
Several items of correspondence from Gordon, (Secretary CTC), up-dates.
Several items of correspondence from WoW, Climate Summit, etc…
Northants Journal – Unitary Authority enquiry.
Constituency delegates, branch nominations agreed.
Northants Journal – agency staff.
Phil Roper – vacancy in the London Region.
Regional Committee minutes – August 2022.
Corby Trades Council – affiliation.
Northants Journal – rape and sexual attack crime figures.
TUC Equalities Conference.
Cheryl Evans – TUC Leadership Schools, LGBTQ+ and disability.
NPC.
Correspondence – West Unitary Authority, Invest in Qatar.
Nicaragua up-date.
Wortley Hall – shareholders meeting.
Equalities Officer – Disability History Month.
Region request for support for industrial action. – Agreed, £200 donation.
International Workers – up-date.
Correspondence from Pat Willmott – Right to Live.
Avazz – up-date, Iranian Women update.
WoW – Somalia update.
Secretary’s Report
Report on the Secretaries Cuban visit. Predominantly Unite activists on the trip. Cycle down the West coast was demanding. Very good cultural visit to blind school for children and meeting fellow trade unionists. Explained how bad the USA embargo is having in the country. Particularly the lack of food and how that is impacting on communities. Meeting with one of the Cuban 5 was a highlight of the trip. Agreed that I should arrange a special report in January 2023.
Labour Research details for interested activists – Secretary now has those details.
Attended picket line with RMT, support from the GMB.
Presidents Report
Regional Committee report. Members can request full details from either the President or the Secretary.
Employment Law certificate going well with now 50% of the course complete.
Digital Communications Report
Website activity for last 30 days: we had 115 (-40) website visits (sessions) by 98 (-25) people (users) and they viewed 365 (-123) pages.
News Items Added to Website:
REPS SPEAKING UP COURSES 29TH AND 30TH NOVEMBER 2022 SUMMARY OF BRANCH MEETING 271022 NOVEMBER 2022 BRANCH MEETING 2023 GMB NORTHANTS BRANCH MEETING DATES UNITE ACTIVISM TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN & GIRLS
The November email newsletter was sent out on Saturday 19th November to 1,550 members (September list) and has been opened by 634 members, a 40.9% opening rate
Equality Officers Report
Equalities Officer (EO) reported on a forthcoming disability conference, 30th November 2022.
New Equalities Officer – Sarah James.
EO reported that things have been slow to happen because of the changeover and the new appointment.
Hopefully something in the New Year (Women’s Conference) focused on the cost-of-living crisis.
Northants North will be choosing their Labour Party candidate soon.
“Clear the Streets for Women”. In Northampton 26th November.
Regional Organisers Report
- Councils.
- North Northants.
- North Daventry – signed off a recognition agreement.
- Matalan.
- Schools.
- St. Andrews.
- Asda.
- ID Verde.
Accompanying Reps Report
Secretary reported on recent cases.
Any Other Business
Election of an Organiser – Secretary seeking clarification on appointment procedures.
GG reported on the Corby Trades Council:
- There’s been a few ‘teething problems” getting set-up but people are attending the meetings. Notes have been sent out to branches and speakers are being approached to attend the meetings. In particular those who are involved directly in disputes from respective industries.
- Lee Baron, Midlands TUC attended the last meeting and spoke about “Dying to Work’ and how vulnerable some workers are at their place of work, specifically people with a terminal illness and how some employers are responding.
- Affiliations – to-date affiliations have been slow with only a few unions responding and notably, nothing from the GMB, to-date.
- AGM is scheduled for the 2nd of February.
- Leanne Buckingham has been elected Chair, but GG has indicated that he no longer wishes to stand as Secretary.
- Still problems with accessing funds but “making progress”.
FTO informed the branch that the Unitary Councils have signed up to the ‘Dying to Work’ charter.
EO informed the branch that MPH would not sign up to the Charter when she was there 3 years ago.
Date of the next meeting: 26th January 2023
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