Notes from Regional Council Executive, 14 December 2010

Attendance: Vaughan Thomas, Adrian Finney, John Reid, Pat O'Brien, Olly New, Dave Rayfield, Janine Booth

COUNCIL OF EXECUTIVES REPORT

Olly reported on:

  • TUC demo, 26 March
  • RMT education centre to expand
  • Parliamentary group report
  • DLR ballot
  • Chris Hutchinson reinstatement
  • ASLEF Boxing Day strike
  • FBU refusal to work ET claims
  • 2x cases of appeals against legal refusals supported
  • LU dispute - request for hardship payments being considered by Finance Sub-Committee
  • 4 Companies Safety Council
  • Eamonn and Arwyn strikes

Discussion:

  • Has LU pay claim been submitted yet? Answer: No.
  • Shouldn't ballot for 'action short' unless intend to use it.
  • Hardship fund

RESOLUTIONS FROM LAST LTRC MEETING

All submitted to GS for Executive:

  • ACAS Talks - rejected
  • Escalation of LU Job Cuts Dispute - rejected
  • LU Jobs and Safety Dispute - rejected
  • 5-rounders on the Victoria Line - accepted, being discussed
  • Charges for Picket Materials - accepted, being discussed

The rejections of three resolutions will be reported to the January meeting of the Regional Council, which may decide to appeal the rejections to the Council of Executives.

NEXT LTRC MEETING

The following resolutions were accepted onto the agenda of January's meeting:

Secretary to circulate these to branches by email to facilitate discussion.

Agreed request from Stratford no.1 branch to invite speaker from National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts to January LTRC meeting.

RESOLUTIONS TO CHANGE BY-LAWS

Janine outlined her intention to ask the Executive to submit changes to by-laws to the Regional Council AGM - introducing this now to facilitate time for discussion and possible changes to the proposals:

1. Current standing orders state that proposals to amend the standing orders can only be tabled to the AGM. Proposal to amend this so that these proposals can be tabled to the August meeting as well as to the AGM, and in each case the deadline for submission should be the LTRC EC meeting of the previous month (ie. July and January, respectively).

2. Creation of new Regional Council officer posts. Current suggestions are: Website Officer, Publicity Officer, Training Officer, Social Events Organiser, Health & Safety Co-ordinator

RECRUITMENT AND ORGANISATION

Dave reported. Statistics show no significant overall loss of membership during dispute.

Agreed to ask RO to write to all branches asking them to organise a specific recruitment activity during January.

Secretary to write to all branches requesting contribution to annual report on branch organisation.

NOMINATIONS OPEN

Nominations were delared open for all Regional Council officer and executive posts. Secretary to circulate branches.