The September branch meeting of GMB Northants Community Branch (C51) took place on Thursday the 26th September 2024 at 7pm on Zoom.
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 September Summary Minutes are also here
Summary Minutes of the Branch Meeting held on 26th September 202
Minutes of branch meeting held on the 25th July 2024
Agreed as a true record.
Matters Arising
Correspondence.
Secretary’s Report
Delegate to Congress – Pat Willmott agreed. Secretary to attend as a visitor – Agreed. Neil to attend as well.
Finance Report
Presidents Report
Digital Communication Officer
Equality Officers Report
Apologies given; written report distributed.
Youth Officers Report
Regional Organisers Report
Apologies given; written report distributed.
Accompanying Reps Report (ARs)
Secretary reported on membership enquiries that he has received and offered some context on his involvement as branch secretary and how he responds to requests from region and the membership who contact him direct.
Data was presented about the volume of work coming through and that he was to have a discussion with Richard Taylor, Senior Organiser in the coming weeks. Also, some further clarification on the role of ARs going forward.
The branch secretary was thanked for his work representing members.
Workplace Report
Any Other Business
No AOB
Date and Time of Next Meeting
31st October 2024 – Zoom.
Agreed as a true record.
Matters Arising
- Update on speaker from Unionlearn – speaker (Matt Cordell) arranged for the October meeting.
- Meeting with Richard Taylor (Senior Organiser) in the coming weeks – re. representation of branch members.
Correspondence.
- Nicaragua – update on campaigning
- Regional vacancies – several!
- Labour Party (LP) – seeking candidates for next year’s NNC election. Several emails.
- LP NEC.
- CEC minutes.
- Appeal for Ukraine firefighters – for PPE. Solidarity campaign. Agreed donation of £100. Jackie proposed that the branch agree on donations “at a set amount”. On the agenda for the October meeting.
- Request for donation for Breast Cancer. No decision until discussion on donations in October.
- LP Kettering – several pieces of correspondence.
- Region – Remembering the Miners’ Strike – play in Leicester.
- Rachelle – appeal outcome decision on behalf of a member.
- Black History month – activities and events.
- Retired Members Association (RMA) – Secretary has joined the RMA
- Neil – recruitment day – Neil to report.
- 38 Degrees – significant amount of correspondence on campaigns.
- Women’s Chainmakers Festival – September 2024.
- Gary Smith – Nuclear funding – concern about the governments direction on policy.
- Union contribution increase.
- LP – call for candidates.
- Delegate to Congress 2025 – Agreed, Pat Willmott as our delegate.
- Rachelle – new Reps being trained.
- Wortley Hall – update and notice of death of a member.
- Rule amendments – ref. Congress 2025.
- Member correspondence – case studies. Context on the number of requests received via the office of branch secretary.
- Regional vacancies.
- Rachelle – transfer of members from ASDA.
- Regional committee minutes – Jackie to report.
- Cuba Solidarity – several pieces of correspondence on campaigns and updates.
- GMB supplies for Neil – arrived!
- Correspondence from Adrian – website inclusions.
- RMA – minutes.
- Nicarague – updates.
- TUC Equalities – update.
- Planks Gave Way – possible October date.
- 38 Degress – Winter Fuel Allowance.
- Wortley Hall – play – The Lions of Rotherham.
- KCLP – meetings.
- EMLP – call for candidates.
- Adrian – website inclusions.
- Pat – WASPI update.
- Hazard conference – Neil to report.
- LP – local elections.
Secretary’s Report
Delegate to Congress – Pat Willmott agreed. Secretary to attend as a visitor – Agreed. Neil to attend as well.
Finance Report
- Unity Trust: £xxxxxx
- Credit Union: £xxxxxx
- Q2 Audit to be complete next week.
Presidents Report
- Regional Committee meeting – 10th July 2024 – update:
- Welcome to new CEC members to meeting.
- Election to CEC – new officers. Names if requested.
- Ongoing disputes: Amazon, UK Services; Special Metal Wigan ltd; Medirest, compass group; Rolls Royce; Birmingham City Council.
- Region CEC membership update.
- Regional Council Elections 2025. Bylaws for selection. Contact Jackie for full details. Secretary to give full details at the next meeting.
- Health & Safety – update on the Planks Gave Way. Play to shown at the next meeting of the Council in October 2024. Secretary to update.
- Legal case update.
- Employment claims – update.
- Recruitment and retention update.
- Regional Hardship Fund.
- Recognition agreements – update.
- Industrial disputes – update.
- Requests for donations – personal requests fund raising.
- Banner Theatre – The Art of Resistance, on until Spring 2025.
- Correspondence from GS – re. Shut out the Light.
- Support for play about the Miners’ Strike 1984 – Women in England, Scotland and Wales. Distribution of the film in 2025.
- Jackie was thanked for her comprehensive report.
Digital Communication Officer
- Website activity (GA4) for last 30 days: we had 185 (-17) website visits (sessions) by 157 (+6) people (users)
- News Items Added to Website: No Place for Racism Toolkit for GMB Reps Wilko One Year On TUC Equality Conferences 2025 Retired Members Association Meeting September 2024 ASDA Kettering Summer Recruitment Day GMB membership Contribution Increase Summary of Branch Meeting 250724 September 2024 GMB Northants Branch Meeting TUC Women Chairmakers Festival 2025 TUC Midlands Events Nov 2024
- WhatsApp Group has 40 (+1) members
- The September Email Newsletter was sent out on Sunday 22nd September to 1,648 members (September members list) and has been opened by 742 members, a 45.2% opening rate
- X / Twitter: 815 Followers.
- Facebook: 407 Followers. Last 28 days: Posts Seen (reach) 124 (153.1%)
- ZOOM: The annual plan expires on 19th October. Renewal cost xxxx
Equality Officers Report
Apologies given; written report distributed.
Youth Officers Report
- No correspondence received
- Verena raised issues that she has discussed with professional colleagues about the NHS. More specifically the pay increases and ‘outsourced’ work being done for the NHS and how that stands outside of agreements. Verena expressed her concern that a lot of people within the NHS are not being treated fairly when agreements are being made with the direct workforce. She has emailed MPs and will report on any feedback.
Regional Organisers Report
Apologies given; written report distributed.
Accompanying Reps Report (ARs)
Secretary reported on membership enquiries that he has received and offered some context on his involvement as branch secretary and how he responds to requests from region and the membership who contact him direct.
Data was presented about the volume of work coming through and that he was to have a discussion with Richard Taylor, Senior Organiser in the coming weeks. Also, some further clarification on the role of ARs going forward.
The branch secretary was thanked for his work representing members.
Workplace Report
- Updates on Equal Pay. This has resulted in people working in the store becoming more interested in joining the union which has significantly helped recruitment.
- Recruitment Day – update report.
- Hazards course – Neil reported on how interesting it was.
- Report on Mental Health course. “Great opportunity to network with people”.
- Reported on some excellent speakers and workshops that you could attend, in particular the report on OFSTED and the anxiety caused to workers.
- ASDA recruitment, Kettering highest!
- Grievance report registered.
- Since becoming a Rep Neil has increase the membership in his store from 20 to 80.
- Neil was thanked by the President for all his hard work as a Rep in store and his contribution to the branch.
Any Other Business
No AOB
Date and Time of Next Meeting
31st October 2024 – Zoom.
| summary_minutes_260924.pdf |
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