The March meeting of the GMB Northants Community Branch took place on Wednesday the 30th March 2022, at 7pm on Zoom. A copy of the Summary Minutes for March can be downloaded here and are also below:
Summary Minutes of the Branch Meeting held on 30th March 2022
1. Apologies
a) Two members
2. Minutes of branch meeting 23rd February 2022
a) Agreed as a true record. Minutes of the extraordinary meeting still to be approved. Action next meeting.
3. Matters Arising
a) No matters arising – covered in subsequent Officers reports.
4. Correspondence
a) Secretary read out all correspondence received for March 2022
5) Secretary Report
a) Report on Regional Committee – legal cases settled. Recruitment in the region down by 476 Current membership 52, 862. National figures down.
b) Gary Smith will be visiting the regions in the coming weeks/months. Rachelle has attended in our region and found the meeting positive.
c) Report on visits to food banks that we are currently supporting. One in Kettering and one in Corby to hand over additional regional funding received. Report handed over for the website. Particular praise for the work being done by volunteers who are totally committed to helping people and families.
d) Workers Memorial Day – Have agreed with Corby Town Council to support and sponsor an event on the 30th of April 2022. Speakers:
e) Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the event. Branch agreed to plan ahead for this special event. Suggested maybe the GS to be invited.
f) Secretary suggested the branch might want to consider having an International Officer. Maybe contact the unions’ international officer to speak with the branch on their work.
6) Financial Report
a) Current Balance on Unity Trust stands at:
£XXXXXX . Credit Union. £XXXXXX
b) Secretary advised that region have decided not to reduce commission to 7.5% from 10%, given the work we are undertaking with representing members. Branch welcomed the news!
c) Gordon raised the sponsorship of the Corby taxi. He will up-date at the next meeting on what’s happening with that sponsorship so that the branch can decide if we continue or not.
7) Presidents Report
a) No report.
8) Digital Communications Officers Report
a) GMB Northants Digital Communications Report – 23rd February 2022
b) Website activity for last 30 days: we had 168 (+64) website visits (sessions) by 108 (+21) people (users) and they viewed 593 (+276) pages.
c) News Items Added to Website:
d) FACE COVERINGS IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS
e) FREE COURSES AVAILABLE TO GMB MEMBERS
f) EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 17TH FEB 2022
g) NJC BULLETIN 080222 - 2021 PAY OFFER
h) NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION
i) SUMMARY OF BRANCH MEETING 260122
j) FEBRUARY 2022 BRANCH MEETING
k) WhatsApp Group has 33 members (+0)
l) The February email newsletter was sent out on 14th February to a total of 1,590 members and has been opened by 671 members, a 42.4% opening rate
m) Twitter: 701 (-1) Followers. Last 28 days: Tweets viewed (impressions) 43(-57%) Profile visits 309(+127.2%)
n) Facebook: 194 (+3) Likes & 233 (+1) Followers. Last 28 days: Posts seen by (reach) 55 (+90%) people. Page views 9 (+50%). Post engagements 9 (-10%)
o) Adrian thanked for all his hard work in populating our website and keeping members informed.
9) Equality Officers Report
a) Report on the forum ‘Going Forward’ Things have stalled but will report to branch at a later date.
b) Considerable discussion about boundary changes and the impact to representation on forums, particularly in respect of losing reps. Sexual harassment policy agreed by CEC on the 1st March, 2022.
c) Looking to do some event later in the year with the focus on International Workers Memorial Day from an equality’s perspective.
10) Youth Officers Report
a) No report
11) Race Officers Report
a) No report
12) Regional Organisers Report
Full and comprehensive report received from Rachelle
a) Matalan.
b) Schools.
c) Yodel.
d) Accuma.
e) Food banks visit.
f) Asda.
g) Rachelle reported on the branch commission. Secretary currently doing 75% of cases given to accompanying reps. Rachelle thanked for her efforts in keeping our funding at current levels.
13) Accompanying Reps Report
a) Secretary reported that he was dealing with a steady flow of cases, mostly disciplinary and grievance, some of which can be quite complicated. Rachelle agreed that it can be difficult at times managing members expectations.
14) Workplace Reports
a) No reports
15) Any Other Business
a) Pat reported on discussion with Eugene (Ukraine) and the Labour Party in Northampton to see if we can get some links going and profile the plight of his own family. Sally Keeble agreed to intervene and help. Secretary to follow up.
b) Gordon has contacted Eugene and North Northants Journal who are interested in speaking to Eugene. They have agreed to run an article on Eugene’s story.
c) Pat advised that there is also a good article on WASPI in the journal worth reading.
a) Two members
2. Minutes of branch meeting 23rd February 2022
a) Agreed as a true record. Minutes of the extraordinary meeting still to be approved. Action next meeting.
3. Matters Arising
a) No matters arising – covered in subsequent Officers reports.
4. Correspondence
a) Secretary read out all correspondence received for March 2022
5) Secretary Report
a) Report on Regional Committee – legal cases settled. Recruitment in the region down by 476 Current membership 52, 862. National figures down.
b) Gary Smith will be visiting the regions in the coming weeks/months. Rachelle has attended in our region and found the meeting positive.
c) Report on visits to food banks that we are currently supporting. One in Kettering and one in Corby to hand over additional regional funding received. Report handed over for the website. Particular praise for the work being done by volunteers who are totally committed to helping people and families.
d) Workers Memorial Day – Have agreed with Corby Town Council to support and sponsor an event on the 30th of April 2022. Speakers:
e) Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the event. Branch agreed to plan ahead for this special event. Suggested maybe the GS to be invited.
f) Secretary suggested the branch might want to consider having an International Officer. Maybe contact the unions’ international officer to speak with the branch on their work.
6) Financial Report
a) Current Balance on Unity Trust stands at:
£XXXXXX . Credit Union. £XXXXXX
b) Secretary advised that region have decided not to reduce commission to 7.5% from 10%, given the work we are undertaking with representing members. Branch welcomed the news!
c) Gordon raised the sponsorship of the Corby taxi. He will up-date at the next meeting on what’s happening with that sponsorship so that the branch can decide if we continue or not.
7) Presidents Report
a) No report.
8) Digital Communications Officers Report
a) GMB Northants Digital Communications Report – 23rd February 2022
b) Website activity for last 30 days: we had 168 (+64) website visits (sessions) by 108 (+21) people (users) and they viewed 593 (+276) pages.
c) News Items Added to Website:
d) FACE COVERINGS IN SECONDARY CLASSROOMS
e) FREE COURSES AVAILABLE TO GMB MEMBERS
f) EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING 17TH FEB 2022
g) NJC BULLETIN 080222 - 2021 PAY OFFER
h) NATIONAL PENSIONERS CONVENTION
i) SUMMARY OF BRANCH MEETING 260122
j) FEBRUARY 2022 BRANCH MEETING
k) WhatsApp Group has 33 members (+0)
l) The February email newsletter was sent out on 14th February to a total of 1,590 members and has been opened by 671 members, a 42.4% opening rate
m) Twitter: 701 (-1) Followers. Last 28 days: Tweets viewed (impressions) 43(-57%) Profile visits 309(+127.2%)
n) Facebook: 194 (+3) Likes & 233 (+1) Followers. Last 28 days: Posts seen by (reach) 55 (+90%) people. Page views 9 (+50%). Post engagements 9 (-10%)
o) Adrian thanked for all his hard work in populating our website and keeping members informed.
9) Equality Officers Report
a) Report on the forum ‘Going Forward’ Things have stalled but will report to branch at a later date.
b) Considerable discussion about boundary changes and the impact to representation on forums, particularly in respect of losing reps. Sexual harassment policy agreed by CEC on the 1st March, 2022.
c) Looking to do some event later in the year with the focus on International Workers Memorial Day from an equality’s perspective.
10) Youth Officers Report
a) No report
11) Race Officers Report
a) No report
12) Regional Organisers Report
Full and comprehensive report received from Rachelle
a) Matalan.
b) Schools.
c) Yodel.
d) Accuma.
e) Food banks visit.
f) Asda.
g) Rachelle reported on the branch commission. Secretary currently doing 75% of cases given to accompanying reps. Rachelle thanked for her efforts in keeping our funding at current levels.
13) Accompanying Reps Report
a) Secretary reported that he was dealing with a steady flow of cases, mostly disciplinary and grievance, some of which can be quite complicated. Rachelle agreed that it can be difficult at times managing members expectations.
14) Workplace Reports
a) No reports
15) Any Other Business
a) Pat reported on discussion with Eugene (Ukraine) and the Labour Party in Northampton to see if we can get some links going and profile the plight of his own family. Sally Keeble agreed to intervene and help. Secretary to follow up.
b) Gordon has contacted Eugene and North Northants Journal who are interested in speaking to Eugene. They have agreed to run an article on Eugene’s story.
c) Pat advised that there is also a good article on WASPI in the journal worth reading.
| summary_minutes_300322.pdf |
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