1 2/12 PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL GMB National Office: 22-24 ...

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL
GMB
National Office: 22-24 Worple Road, London, SW19 4DD
2/12
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MINUTES of a meeting held on TUESDAY 13
MARCH 2012, at 9.30AM in the COUNCIL CHAMBER of the CAMDEN TOWN
HALL, JUDD STREET, LONDON WC1H 9JE
PRESENT:
President: Mary Turner MBE (London Region)
Vice-President: Malcolm Sage (Midland & East Coast Region)
Birmingham & West Midlands: Brian Adams (Commercial Services), Richard
Clarke (Public Services), Gordon Gibbs (Public Services), Viv Smart (Public
Services)
London: Gary Doolan (Public Services), Roy Dunnett (Commercial Services),
Brenda Fraser (Manufacturing), George Fraser (Public Services)
Midland & East Coast: Liz Blackman (Public Services), John Hall (Public Services),
Kath Slater (Commercial Services)
Northern: George Emmerson (Manufacturing), Gerry Ferguson (Manufacturing),
Mary Hutchinson (Manufacturing), James Jones (Public Services), Peter Kane
(Commercial Services)
North West & Irish: Margaret Gregg (Commercial Services), David Hope (Public
Services), Eddie Marnell (Manufacturing), John McDonnell (Manufacturing), Andy
McGivern (Manufacturing), Lisa Ryan (Commercial Services), Ron Waugh
(Manufacturing)
GMB Scotland: Ann McLaren (Manufacturing), June Minnery (Public Services)
Southern: Dave Clements (Commercial Services), Bryan Hulley (Manufacturing),
Michael Lock (Public Services), Bill Modlock (Public Services), Lorraine Parker
(Public Services)
South Western: Sheila Bearcroft MBE (Manufacturing), Ken Daniels (Public
Services), Gwyn Evans (Commercial Services), Ann Leader (Manufacturing)
Yorkshire & North Derbyshire: Sandra Berwick (Public Services), Martin Jackson
(Public Services), David Noble (Public Services), Nicola Sharpe (Commercial
Services), James Stribley (Manufacturing)
Race Reserved Seats: Dana Bruno (Public Services), Audrey Harry MBE
(Manufacturing), Sharon Harding (Public Services), Warinder Juss (Commercial
Services), Evelyn Martin MBE (Public Services)
General Secretary: Paul Kenny
IN ATTENDANCE:
Regional Secretaries: Joe Morgan (Birmingham & West Midlands Region), Andy
Worth (Midland & East Coast Region), Tom Brennan (Northern Region), Paul
McCarthy (North West & Irish Region), Harry Donaldson (GMB Scotland), Richard
Ascough (Southern Region), Paul Maloney (Southern Region), Allan Garley (South
Western Region), John Phillips (South Western Region), Tim Roache (Yorkshire &
North Derbyshire Region)
National Secretaries: Phil Davies, Keith Hazlewood, Gary Smith, Brian Strutton
National Organiser: Martin Smith
National Office Personnel: Heidi Benzing, Justin Bowden, Ida Clemo, Rose
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Conroy, Naomi Cooke, Kamaljeet Jandu, John McClean, Alex McMillan, Nick
Mendelsohn, Jerry Nelson, Dolores O’Donoghue, Eamon O’Hearn Large, Steve
Pryle, Steve Short, Kathleen Walker Shaw, Allan Wylie
Regional Office Personnel: John Cope (London Region)
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(a) Apologies
Apologies for absence were received from Lena Sharp (London Region), Paul
Wheatley (Midland & East Coast Region), Jean Foster (Southern Region),
Brian Farr (South Western Region)
The General Secretary reported that Monica Smith, RMA Secretary’s husband
had sadly passed away over the weekend. The CEC would send their
condolences to Monica.
The General Secretary reported that Pat Delahunty, North West & Irish
Region and former Congress steward was due to go into hospital for open
heart surgery. The CEC would send him their best wishes.
(b) Appointment of South Western Regional Secretary
The General Secretary reported that the South Western Regional Committee
had interviewed candidates. The Regional Committee were unanimously
recommending to the CEC that John Phillips be appointed as the new South
Western Regional Secretary. The CEC unanimously AGREED to endorse
their recommendation. John Phillips was invited into the meeting and
welcomed with acclamation.
2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
HELD ON TUESDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2012
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Central Executive Council
held on Tuesday 14 February 2012, be agreed.
3. MATTERS ARISING
Item 14
The General Secretary reported that Ron Waugh, North West & Irish Region
will take a seat on the Organisation Committee.
4. CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS 2012
The CEC AGREED to adopt the proposed Timetable and By-Laws for the byelections
for the Birmingham & West Midlands Region Manufacturing Section
Seat and the GMB Scotland General Seat and Manufacturing Section Seat.
The CEC further AGREED to appoint Steve Short as National Returning
Officer, Kate Caswell as Returning Officer for Birmingham & West Midlands
Region, Gavin Britton as Returning Officer for GMB Scotland, Electoral
Reform Services as the Independent Scrutineer for the purposes of Sections
49 and 51 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
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and St. Ives Direct as the Independent Person for the distribution of the ballot
papers for the purposes of Section 51 of the Trade Union and Labour
Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.
5. GMB CONGRESS 2012
(a) Draft CEC Rule Amendments
Allan Wylie, Finance Director reported there were fifteen suggested CEC Rule
Amendments to Congress 2012 in respect of Rules 1, 5, 6, 18, 26, 34, 35, 54,
55, 58, 60, and 61. It was noted that if suggested CECRA7 to delete rule 34
from the rulebook is adopted by Congress, rules 35 to 68 would require renumbering.
The CEC AGREED to submit these Rule Amendments to
Congress 2012.
(b) Congress 2012 Preliminary Agenda and Draft CEC Position on
Congress Motions
The CEC AGREED its stance on Motions to Congress 2012, save those
deferred to the April 2012 CEC meeting.
The General Secretary stated that the CEC Special Political report should be
available for the April CEC meeting, so the CEC could take a stance on
deferred motions where the suggested stance was to seek withdrawal in
favour of the Report.
(c) Appointment of CEC Observers to the Standing Orders Committee
It was AGREED that Andy McGivern, Manufacturing Section; Lena Sharp,
Commercial Services Section and Liz Blackman, Public Services Section
would act as CEC observers to the Standing Orders Committee at Congress
2012.
(d) List of Exhibitors
The CEC AGREED the list of exhibitors and sponsors to Congress 2012,
noting an additional exhibitor – National Pensioners Convention. It was
agreed that more details were required before it was decided if
AbleandWilling, a Brighton based company helping disabled people find work,
could be invited to exhibit. Concerns were raised as to whether they ran a
Work Fair programme.
6. SECTION REPORTS
(a) Manufacturing Section
(i) Section National Committee Meeting – 15 March 2011
Minutes
NOTED that Mary Hutchinson was a member of Northern Region. The Minutes
would be amended accordingly.
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Manufacturing Section
National Committee held on 15 March 2011, be received.
Matters dealt with
Manufacturing Section Conference Report
National Officers’ Reports
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GFTU Conference May 2011
TUC Disability Conference
(ii) Section National Committee Meeting – 28/29 July 2011
Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Manufacturing Section
National Committee held on 28/29 July 2011, be received.
Matters dealt with
Visit Medway Queen
National Officers’ Report
EFBWW
Sayce Report
Section Conference 2012
(b) Public Services Section
(i) Public Sector Pensions
Brian Strutton, National Secretary reported on progress with negotiations on
the Public Sector Pension schemes. The decision on the challenge to the
High Court ruling on the move from RPI to CPI was awaited. The GMB Civil
Service reps were meeting to consider the offer for their scheme. They will
consider the GMB stance for the consultation process with members. The
NHS reps would be meeting next week to discuss the NHS pension offer.
LGPS negotiations were still outstanding.
(ii) Contractors Forum Update
Justin Bowden, National Officer reported on the Carillion strike at Great
Western Hospital (GWH) Swindon. GMB members had been on strike for 11
days to date, with another 7 days planned. A Carillion Manager and a
Supervisor at the centre of the allegations had both resigned which had
boosted members confidence and determination. A number of protests and
demonstrations had been held outside Carillion sites. 100 Tribunal
applications against Carillion had been lodged. GMB officers were meeting
the police to discuss criminal matters which had come to light including
payment of cash and other bribes to Carillion management. GMB had written
to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee asking for an investigation
into the siphoning of NHS cash into tax free scams for foreign investors after it
came to light that Semperion, the company that owns GWH, is based in
Jersey to enable overseas investors to avoid tax on dividend income. A march
through Swindon was planned for 17 March.
In response to a question on the Contractors Forum mapping exercise, Justin
Bowden reported that to date two Regions had responded with their mapping
information and confirming their list of Regional targets.
(iii) Social Care Sector Update
Justin Bowden reported that litigation had been bought against Southern
Cross. An application lodged in August 2011 over a failure to consult had now
come to the attention of the care home owners who had jointly signed up to a
liability and indemnity clause. The maximum value of the claim if successful
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was £150m. If GMB wins it is for GMB to decide which care home companies
to enforce damages against. The General Secretary and Justin had met with
Stephen Taylor, the Chair of the Southern Cross Landlord’s Committee. The
General Secretary had advised Stephen Taylor that GMB would continue with
its media campaign, and would not drop the litigation. Four Seasons was
unable to re-finance its £780m debt and was now up for sale. It had already
closed one home in Oxfordshire. Private Equity, who had ruined Southern
Cross and the social care sector in the first place were now circling Four
Seasons. A letter was being sent to all Councillors in England, Wales and
Scotland highlighting GMB concerns over Four Seasons.
7. APPEALS COMMITTEE – 13 FEBRUARY 2013
Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Appeals Committee held
on 13 February 2013, be noted
Matters dealt with
Appeal to the Central Executive Council – Sharon Davies, South Western
Region
8. FINANCE & GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE – 13 FEBRUARY 2012
Minutes
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Finance & General
Purposes Committee held on 13 February 2012, be received.
Matters dealt with
Affiliations
Donations
Benefit Claims
Industrial Action
Employment Matters
Contribution Income 2012
Budget 2012
Ireland
9. TUC
General Council Report
The CEC AGREED to accept the report of the TUC General Council meeting
held on 22 February 2012.
The President reported on a TUC rally about the Health and Social Care Bill.
She commented that it was a successful event, but had too many speakers.
Despite the rally there will be no vote on the Bill in Parliament, just a vote on
the amendments.
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10. LABOUR PARTY
(a) NEC Report
Andy Worth, Midland & East Coast Regional Secretary reported there had
been no NEC meeting since the last CEC. However, the Leaders project with
Charles Allan was complete and the Leadership Team had been appointed to
the Labour Board of Director positions. As predicted the recent National Policy
Forum hadn’t met in person, but had instead been held as a telephone
conference for 150 people.
Tim Roache, Yorkshire & North Derbyshire Regional Secretary reported that
the Trade Union backed nominee for the Bradford West by-election had been
selected to contest the seat.
(b) Labour Party Conference 2012
The CEC AGREED to re-nominate Diana Holland, Unite for Labour Party
Treasurer, and Harry Donaldson, GMB Scotland Regional Secretary for the
Conference Arrangements Committee.
The CEC AGREED to revisit the nomination for Labour Party Auditor at the
June 2012 meeting.
The CEC AGREED to re-nominate Paul Kenny, General Secretary; Mary
Hutchinson, Northern Region; Tom Brennan, Northern Regional Secretary;
and Maria Ludkin, Legal Officer for the National Policy Forum, but as the
deadline for nominations was 22 June 2012, to delay submitting these
nominations whilst the direction of the NPF was being discussed.
11. ORGANISERS
(a) Northern Region
(i) RESOLVED that the appointments of Dan Gow, Tanya Race and Dayne
Weir as Organisation Officers, be agreed.
(ii) RESOLVED that Northern Region be given authority to hold an election in
respect of Kevin Young, Gail Johnson, Ian MacKenzie and Michael
Blench.
(b) Southern Region
The General Secretary reported that two long standing vacancies for Senior
Organisers were being advertised, along with the vacancy created by Paul
Maloney’s appointment as Regional Secretary. NOTED
12. LORD WEDDERBURN
Richard Ascough, Southern Regional Secretary reported that Lord
Wedderburn of Charlton had recently died. He was a staunch opponent of
Thatcherism.
13. CEC ELECTION VOTERS
In response to a question on the discrepancy in the number of members
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declared on the membership reports and the number of eligible voters in the
CEC elections the General Secretary stated that the majority of the
discrepancy was due to members having no address on the membership
system so they were not sent a ballot paper. Allan Wylie, Finance Director
would respond to the question in more detail.
14. REMPLOY
Phil Davies, National Secretary attacked the heartless Coalition Government
for announcing the closure of 36 Remploy Factories by the end of 2012, with
the remainder to be closed by the end of 2013. This was despite the cost of
operating the factories falling over the last 12 months and sales and orders
increasing over the same period. A campaign of civil disobedience would be
launched to fight to keep the Remploy Factories open. Along with the General
Secretary he is due to meet with the Minister responsible for this decision on
14 March 2012. The General Secretary commented on the poor management
of Remploy, too high overheads, and a lack of procurement work from
Government which has led to the factories failing.
15. MEMBERSHIP
The General Secretary reported that membership had grown 1.1.% year on
year, resulting in 6,745 more members.
MARY TURNER
PRESIDENT
PAUL KENNY
GENERAL SECRETARY
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