SUMMARY OF BRANCH MEETING 261023

The October meeting of the GMB Northants Community Branch took place on Thursday the 26th October 2023 at 7pm on Zoom

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

A PDF copy of the October Summary Minutes are also here

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Summary Minutes of the Branch Meeting held on 26th October 2023

Minutes of branch meeting 28th September 2023
Agreed as a true record
 
Matters Arising
No matters arising – covered in subsequent Officers reports.
 
Correspondence.

• Labour Party Conference, 2023
• Mark Pengally – Solidarity Saturday, 14 October, 2023
• Kat Casewell, GMB diaries – only ordered 12 this year. 
• Regional Committee mins. 2 sets of mins. Jackie to report later.
• Finbar Bowie, Solidarity Sat.
• Rachelle – Kettering General Hospital (website enquiry)
• Neil – ASDA recruitment.
• 38 Degrees – campaigning issues.
• Rachelle – Mental Health Training.
• Pat – Congress 2024
• 38 Degrees – campaigning issues.
• Martin Allen – job vacancies.
• Colleen Cassidy – Kettering PPLP. Rosie Wrighting – GMB shortlisted.
• War on Want – Isreal/Gaza (Palestine) war.
• Banner Theatre, new material.
• LP – mid-term elections. More potential elections
• Neil – ASDA recruitment
• Cuba Solidarity – continue affiliation.
• Labour Party
• Verena – wishing to continue as YO.
• Adrian – Zoom membership. Continue.
• Richard Taylor, GDPR for Accompanying Reps.
• Banner Theatre- new material 2024.
• WOW – ceasefire in Gaza.
• Cuba Solidarity – Attacks on embassies. 
• Wortley Hall – election of new Secretary.
• Adele Atkiss, Reg. Council mins.
• Cheryle Evans – Asbestos report.
• Martin Allen-support for Palestinian trade union workers.
• Andy Sawford, (KCLP) – asking for support in Peterborough.
• LP GMB delegates – Kettering and Corby.
• Labour Research material.

 
Secretary’s Report

• Report on Solidarity Saturday, 14th October 2023 – Corby.
• KCLP – selection of candidate.  Secretary was a member of the selection panel.  Report to next meeting. Two candidates shortlisted – Rosie Wrighting (GMB) and Martin Shepard. 
• Regional Council – Jackie to report.
• Support for Palestinian Trade Unions.  Letter from Martin Allen. General debate from members.

 
Presidents Report
Report from the Regional Council, 18th October, online. 

• Finance report. David Castledine.
• Health & Safety – long term strategic aims for workers,
• Increase the number of H&S reps,
• Identify workplace leaders,
• Support RO and Reps to run industrial campaigns,
• Scholarships programmes to increase potential for lay reps to become full-time officers,
• Increase the number of women’s reps,
• Increase the number of workplace organisers,
• Update on training reps – numbers!
• Legal – claims processed in the Region,
• Equalities Report from the 14th April 2023, election results,
• Young Workers event 21st June, 2023. “Significant success”,
• Local campaigns,
• Organising presentation-Garment Workers project,
• Various reports , EC, LP, TUC.

 
Jackie was thanked for an excellent and comprehensive branch report.
 
Digital Communications Officers Report
Website activity for last 30 days: we had 103 (-130) website visits (sessions) by 92 (-80) people (users)
WhatsApp Group has 32 members
The October email newsletter was sent out on 19th October to 1,615 members and has been opened by 704 members, a 43.9% opening rate
X / Twitter: 797 Followers. Last 28 days: Tweets viewed (impressions) 34
Facebook: 314 Followers. Last 28 days: Posts seen (reach) 43
Zoom Plan renewed for 12 months

​Equality Officers Report
Pat struggled to get into the meeting
 
Youth Officers Report
No report.
 
Regional Organisers Report
No report.
 
Accompanying Reps Report
Secretary reported a very busy month representing members. Doing more physical representation rather than Zoom/Teams. Particular concerns about the increase in bullying. 
 
Workplace Report
Neil reported on being very busy on health and safety issues.  Also, that he is seeing an increase in bullying in the workplace. 
Continued campaigning and recruitment.   
29th October, report to next meeting.
November 5th Day of Action. Report to next meeting.
Neil was thanked for a comprehensive report.
 
Any Other Business
Rajko gave an update on his own situation.  Branch wished Rajko the best of luck going forward. 
Bladder presentation.  Agreed – 16th November, 2023.
 
Next meeting 30th November 2023
 
 
Yours fraternally
Alan Irwin
Branch Secretary
 
26th October 2023

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